Cardinal Swynford's illegitimate daughter

Henry Beaufort (d.1447) was a son of John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford, and was therefore a half-brother to King Henry IV. On the 14th July 1398 Henry was consecrated as Bishop of Lincoln, in November 1404 he became Bishop of Winchester and then in 1426 he was made a Cardinal by Pope Martin V. 

Henry Beaufort

In 1402 Henry fathered a daughter named Jane Beaufort. Many people gave her mother as Alice FitzAlan (1378-1415) however this is highly unlikely due to Jane's date of birth. It is possible that Jane was in fact named Joan, however due to non-standardized spelling it is unclear which it is. She may have been named Joan after Henry's sister. It does not appear that Jane was kept a secret or hidden away, as the Beaufort family themselves were an illegitimate line it appears they treated their children the same whether they were legitimate or not. 

Jane married Sir Edward Stradling (1389-1453, Acre) in about 1423. Edward was the eldest son of Sir William Stradling and Lady Isabel St Barbe. The ancient Stradling family was seated at St Donat's Castle in Glamorgan in Wales. Like his father and grandfather before him, Edward made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to receive his knighthood in 1408.
The couple had four children;
+ Henry Stradling (1423-77, Cyprus) m. Elizabeth Herbert
                                                           + Thomas Stradling (1454-80) m. Janet Matthew
                                                           + Charles Stradling (b.1457)
                                                           + Jane Stradling (b.1459) m. Myles ap Harry
                                                           + Elizabeth Stradling (b.1461) m Richard Fleming
In 1449 Henry, his family and a servant were captured by the Breton pirate Colyn Dolphyn on their journey sailing from Wales to Somerset. The pirate held the family at St Malo while demanding a ransom of 2,200 marks. Sir Edward had to sell off  four of his manors to pay it; Sutton, Bassalleg, Rogerston and Tregwillim. Dolphyn finally released the family in 1451. A year later, Colyn Dolphyn returned to St Donat's and so the Stradlings lured the pirate to Nash Point, a sandbank, using false lights on the cliffs so as to capture him. Dolphyn was given a trial - although the legality of this is in question - and he was condemned to death. Colyn Dolphyn was buried up to his neck in the sand in Tresillian Cave. As his father did, Henry Stradling went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1476. Henry was knighted at the Holy Sepulchre the following year. He died on his way back to England in 1477. He was buried in Famagusta in Cyprus.
+ Katherine Stradling m. Maurice Denys (1410-1503)
                                   + Walter Denys
                                   + John Denys
                                   + William Denys
                                  m2. Hugh Winston
+ John Stradling (b.1425). Had a daughter named Ann Danvers (b.1459)
It has been suggested by some that John joined the church and became Archdeacon of Llandaff in 1448, but later leaving Wales and obtaining the rectory of North Tawton in the diocese of Exeter in 1454.
+ David Stradling
The only mention of David was that he was the youngest child of the family and that he lived in Somerset, as he was very close to his mother.

It seems likely that Edward's appointment as Chamberlain of South Wales in December 1423 may have been a result of his new connection to the Bishop. He remained in this position until March 1437. Edward held a number of positions throughout the years; his rise furthered due to his connection to the royal family he had married into. 

November 8th 1424, Westminster
Grant, during pleasure, by advice of the council, to Edward Stradlyng, king's knight of the office of steward and receiver of the lordships of Cantreselly, Alsandreston and Penkethly, which are held of the earl of Hereford, the said office of steward and receiver of the kings lordships having been previously held as one office, with the fees of 40s. [a year].

July 31st 1432, Dogmersfield
Commission to Edward Stradelyng, knight, and William ap Thomas, knight, to enquire as to the malefactors who took at sea a ship called le George of Sluys laden with wines and honey of certain merchants of Flanders and Picardy, and brought her to the town of Dynby and sold the ship there with part of the wines and honey, giving the remainder to divers persons. The circumstances are to be ascertained and persons refusing to make restitution are to find. surety to appear in Chancery in the quinzaine of Michaelmas next.

April 28th 1434, Westminster
Commission to James Audeley, knight, Edward Stradlyng, knight, William ap Thomas, knight, Robert Grendour, knight, Thomas Arundell, knight, John Herle, knight, John Polryden and John Hunte, sarjeant at arms, to make inquisition touching a petition by Peter Preere, Richard Goulle, Francis Sarratt, William Lorget and their fellows, burgesses and merchants of the king's cities of Paris and Rouen, shewing that, whereas they recently laded two vessels of Rouen at Leseluse with goods worth 2,000 marks for the victualling of the said cities, these vessels were taken off Brumalet in Caux by certain of the king's lieges in two balingers of Wynchelse and Sandewyche and carried as if belonging to enemies to the parts of Cornwall and Wales, where they were disposed of. All goods whereof the petitioners can prove their ownership by the merchants' marks or otherwise are to be restored, or their value paid if they have been consumed, and any persons proving contumacious are to be brought before the king in chancery.

July 27th 1438, Dogmersfield
Appointment, during pleasure, of Edward Stradelyng knight, to be sheriff of Kermerdyn in South Wales, accounting at the exchequer of Kermerdyn.

When Cardinal Beaufort died in 1447, he mentioned both his daughter and son-in-law in his Will. 
In the original Will of Henry Beaufort, dated 20 January 1446;
"Item, I bequeath to Johanna, wife of Edward Stradling, Knight, two dozen dishes, four chargers, XII salt-cellars, etc and c li in gold". This bequest was the first one listed after the gift of a cup of gold to the king, Henry.
In the second codicil (2 September 1447) to Henry's Will is states;
"Item, I bequeath to Edward Stradling, Knight, a certain portion of silver vessels, according to the discretion of my executors"

Jane died in 1453, the same year as her husband. 

The murder of Henry Shirley

Henry Shirley (1591-1627) was a playwright whose works included "The Martyr'd Souldier", "Giraldo, the Constant Lover" and "The Dumb Bawd". In 1627 Henry Shirley was murdered by an MP for financial reasons.

Children of Thomas Shirley (1542-1612) and Anne Kempe (1542-1623);

+ Thomas Shirley m. Frances Vavasour

                             + Henry Shirley (d.1627)

+ Anthony Shirley m. Frances Vernon

+ Robert Shirley m. Teresia Khan

+ Cecily Shirley m. Thomas West

                          + Essex West

+ Mary Shirley m. John Crofts

+ Anne Shirley m. John Tracy

+ Elizabeth Shirley m. Edward Onslow

+ Margery Shirley m. Pexsall Brocas

+ Jane Shirley m. John Shirley

+ Henry Shirley

+ Eleanor Shirley

+ Edward Shirley

In 1622 Henry's grandmother Anne left him a bequest in her Will of £40 a year;

"Item, I give and bequeath unto my true and loving friend, the said Sir Thomas Bishop, the

sum of three hundred pounds current money of England being now in his own custody,

upon the trust and confidence hereafter following, viz., that he, the said Sir Thomas

Bishop, shall retain the same forever, and in lieu thereof shall pay or cause to be paid by his heirs or assigns unto Henry Shirley, my grandchild, during his natural life only for

and towards his maintenance, the full sum of forty pounds yearly of current English

money at two usual feasts in the year, viz., the feast of Sir Michael th’ Archangel and the

Annunciation of Our Blessed Lady St. Mary the Virgin by even and equal portions, the

first payment thereof to begin at such of the feasts as shall first happen after my decease,

and I do charge my executor that he see and provide that the same yearly sum of forty

pounds be wholly used and employed according to my true intent and meaning, viz. for

the only maintenance of the said Henry Shirley during his natural life and not otherwise"- Will of Anne Shirley, 1622

The fact that Henry was left the money outright, but was to be given the money in yearly installments can be seen as an indication of his inability to spend his money wisely and perhaps previous behaviour where he has wasted his money.
The executor of Anne Shirley's Will, Thomas Bishop (1553-1626), maintained the payments to Henry until his own death in 1626. In Thomas' own Will he made the request that his son, Edward Bishop MP (1602-49), take over the management of payments to Henry Shirley, indicating which property to use the rents from to pay him.
The Friday before the 31st October 1627, Henry Shirley visited the house on Chancery Lane of Edward Bishop and demanded the money that he was owed. The unarmed Henry Shirley was then run through with a sword by Edward Bishop, who many reported was drunk at the time. Shirley died immediately.
After the coroner's inquest into the incident, Edward Bishop fled and went into hiding. He was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to be burnt on the hand, but was later pardoned on the 21st October 1628. The money, a sum of £279, which was found in the household of Edward Bishop was paid to a cousin of Henry Shirley. The pardon came as a result of Bishop promising to pay the £40 annuity that Henry was receiving, to Henry's older brother in his place. However, Edward Bishop did not pay the money due in arrears, nor did he pay the promised annuity. Due to this Shirley's creditors, to whom he owed money to before his death, petitioned the Privy Council to force Bishop to pay them.
In addition to the money not paid to Henry Shirley, another grandchild of Anne Shirley's named Essex West was to receive £100 when she reached the age of fifteen years. This money was also not paid by Edward Bishop, despite his father mentioning it in his Will.

It would appear that Edward Bishop's actions were due to his own dire financial situation which occurred after the death of his father.

"There is a foul murther committed on Friday last by Sr Edward Bishop, of Sussex, on Mr

Henry Shirley of the same shire, whom he run thro’ with his sword (having no weapon

about him), as he came to him in his lodging in Chancery Lane to demand of him an

annuity of 40l., which the said Sr Edward Bishop was to give him, whose lands (which

are reported be of 1500l, or 2000l, by the year) were presently begged or given away, but

himself not yet found out."-Mr Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, 31st October 1627

The murder was still remembered by many as it was mentioned four years later in William Prynne's 'Histriomastix' (1633);
Given as an example of "the sudden and untimely ends of all those ancient play-poets" is mentioned the case of "Sherly, slaine suddenly by Sir Edward Bishop, whiles hee was drunke, as most report".

Edward Sutton's two families

Edward Sutton, Baron Dudley (1567-1643) was a man who had two families; one with the wife he was arranged to marry, and a second with the woman who became his long term mistress until his death. It may not be unusual for a nobleman to also have a mistress, however Edward Sutton left his wife and legitimate children unsupported and set up home with his mistress and their eleven children. 

On June 18th 1581 Edward Sutton married Theodosia Harington (1560-1650). The Harington family were the largest landowners in Rutland. 

Edward and Theodosia had five children together;

+ Anne Sutton (1582-1615) m. Hans Meinhard von Schonberg

+ Theodosia Sutton (b.1584)

+ Mary Sutton (1586-1645) m. Alexander Home

+ Ferdinando Sutton (1588-1621) m. Honora Seymour

+ Margaret Sutton (b.1597) m. Miles Hobart

Edward owned lands in Staffordshire and Worcestershire, as well as the manors of Dudley, Sedgley and Kingswinford, along with ironworks in that area. It was probably due to his time spent in the area of Dudley that Edward met local girl Elizabeth Tomlinson. 

Edward Sutton met Elizabeth Tomlinson (1579-1629), the daughter of collier William Tomlinson and his wife Agnes Dues of St Thomas in Dudley, and she became his mistress. 

Edward and Elizabeth had twelve children together;

+ Robert Dudley (1587-1653) m. Margaret 

+ Elizabeth Dudley (1588-1647) m. Jeffrey Dudley

+ Jane Dudley (b.1588) m. Richard Parkhouse

+ Catherine Dudley (1589-1675) m. Thomas Dudley

+ Martha Dudley (b.1590) m. Thomas Wilmer

+ Alice Dudley (b.1592) m. George Guest

+ Susan Dudley (1594-1601)

+ John Dudley (1597-1604)

+ Dud Dudley (1600-1684) m. Eleanor Heaton (1606-75)

+ Dorothy Dudley (b.1606) m. Thomas Brooke

+ Eleanor Dudley (1606-1659)

+ Edward Dudley (1608-14)

Himley Hall

Edward moved to Himley Hall near Dudley with Elizabeth Tomlinson and their children, leaving his wife Theodosia and their children in London. Edward left his wife with no financial support; the Privy Council became involved and the Star Chamber ordered Edward to pay his wife an allowance as she was left "without provision of sustenance" whilst he lived with "a lewd and infamous woman". Yet Edward continued to leave his wife without any money. In August 1597 Edward was sent to Fleet Prison for this non-payment. He was only imprisoned for a few days and was released with the condition that he give his wife the £66 that was owed to her since the Privy Council ruling. In addition to this, he was to pay £100 a year to Theodosia during her lifetime unless the couple were to reunite, as well as £10 a year for each legitimate child for their education. Less than eighteen months later Edward was again called by the Privy Council as he had failed to maintain the payments; he failed to send his wife the money ordered, sending her only a payment of £32. 

Edward's only legitimate son Ferdinando predeceased him, however he left a daughter Frances Sutton who was Edward's heiress. Frances became Baroness Dudley and inherited the estates as well as the debts. Frances' husband Humble Ward, son of a wealthy goldsmith, paid off the debts and restored the estates. 

Concerning his surviving illegitimate sons; Robert Dudley was given the Netherton Estate in Dudley, and Dud Dudley was given the lease of Chasepool Lodge in Swindon.

Dud Dudley was the child of Edward Sutton that caused the family the most problems. He had been educated at Balloil College at Oxford University, however he was called home to help his father with the ironworks business. A relative John Bagley accused Dud of "wasting his father's fortune on his coal mining schemes" and "bringing his father to such destitution". His mother Elizabeth was clearly aware of his nature and in her Will she requested that the money belonging to her which was then in the hands of Dud be given instead to the poor people of Dudley. At the time of her death Elizabeth Tomlinson was a wealthy woman with a personal wealth made up of money, plate and jewels coming to around the sum of at least L600. It was this fortune which she had given to Dud five years before her death as she had apparently said all her other children were provided for, however in her Will she wanted these items to be given to the poor rather than her son. Also relating to Dud, her Will contained the phrase "she willed that her son...should not see her writings, because, as she said, he might do somebody wrong". 'Her writings' can be taken to mean either her Will or her personal correspondence or diary. Dud did go on to contest his mother's Will. He argued that he should be the one in ownership of the lands, ironworks, stoneworks and coal pits in Tipton, Sedgley, Kingswinford, Rowley Regis and Oldbury. He also demanded Tipton Park and Parkfield which his mother had bought.

Additionally, Elizabeth wrote in her Will that all of her "wearing apparel" was to be divided between her five daughters. After some small bequests to family members and servants, Elizabeth left all else in her possession to be divided equally between her eight surviving children. 

David Tudor

David Tudor (1459-1535) was the illegitimate son of Owen Tudor, the second husband of the Dowager Queen Katherine of Valois. David Tudor changed his name, or rather adopted the more Welsh version of his name, and so became David Owen.

David Owen effigy, Sussex

David was therefore a close blood relative of the Tudor kings Henry VII, whom he fought for at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, and Henry VIII and due to this was able to marry well and hold positions at the royal court. He was a Knight of the Body under Henry VII and the King's carver during the years 1486-1529, he was also brought to give testimony during the divorce proceedings of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon. Away from court positions, David was the Constable of Winchester and Sheriff of Hampshire. David was also one of the chief mourners at the funeral of his nephew King Henry VII in 1509 due to his blood affinity to the monarch.
David Owen was the only member of the Tudor bloodline to only have Tudor blood, and not the royal Valois blood that his half-siblings had. However, despite this it appears that he was not sidelined and enjoyed a long and successful life and was an active member of the Tudor family, being close in particular to his nephew Henry VII.
David Owen's will was proved seven years after his death in 1542 and included that he willed "an obit be kept yearly, the morrow for the souls of King Henry the Seventh, Edmund sometime Earl of Richmond, Jasper Duke of Bedford, my father, my mother". He also requested to be buried alongside his first wife Mary Bohun. In his will he left 500 marks to his two daughters by his third wife Anne, 300 marks to his illegitimate daughter Barbara, and a silver cup to his daughter Anne (Hopton). His estates were left for the use of his wife Anne for the remainder of her life and then in succession to his son Owen, his son John, his son Jasper and his grandson David (son of Henry Owen).

David married three times;
1) Mary de Bohun (1475-1500) (married 1489)
    + Henry Owen (b.1490) m1. Joyce Croft
                                         m2. Dorothy West (1483-1542)
                                         + David Owen (d.1555)
                                         + Mary Owen (b.1516) m. John Warnet
                                         + Anne Owen (b.1518) m. James Gage
                                         + Elizabeth Owen (b.1530) m. Nicholas Dering
    + Jasper Owen m. Elizabeth
                            + Anne Owen
    + Roger Owen
    + Anne Owen m. Arthur Hopton (married 1514)
                          + Owen Hopton (1524-91) m. Anne Echingham
                          + Ralph Hopton
                          + Robert Hopton
                          + Thomas Hopton
                          + Charles Hopton
                          + John Hopton
                          + Margaret Hopton m1. Anthony Cockett m2. Arthur Robsart
                          + Frances Hopton m1. Mr Miller m2. Mr Jermy m3. Thomas Neville m4. William                                       Hovell
                          + Mary Hopton m1. Richard Gurney m2. William Butler
                          + Dorothy Hopton (b.1523) m1. Mr Berry m2. John Byryss

During the years 1513-15, Arthur Hopton and David Owen (Anne's father) were in the Chancery courts concerning the marriage settlement of Anne and Arthur.
It was Owen Hopton and his wife Anne who were the last guardians of the Hopton's cousin, through the Tudor blood, Lady Katherine Grey at their home in Suffolk and who were responsible for organising her funeral.

Owen Hopton

2) Anne Oxenbridge, nee Blount (b.1466) (married 1497)
3) Anne Devereux (b.1490)
    + Owen Owen
    + John Owen (1525-59) m. Elizabeth Catesby
                                          + Henry Owen m. Elizabeth Radcliffe
    + Elizabeth Owen m. Thomas Burgh
                                + Humphrey Burgh
                                + Arthur Burgh
                                + Margaret Burgh
    + Harry Owen (1520-35)
    + dau. Owen

David also had two illegitimate children; William and Barbara.