Title:

Knight

First Name:

Nicholas

Last Name:

Hervey

Memorial Type:

Burial site

Does the monument still exist?

No

Installation Date:

Contemporary (pre-1500)

Allegiance:

Lancastrian

Memorial Notes:

Nicholas Hervey had a varied career, he was by trade a lawyer but started his political life as MP in Launceston, Cornwall. He became a Justice of the Peace in Bristol and by 1469 was the City Recorder. He became friends with Lord Berkeley and was involved in the military action which became known as the battle of Nibley Green (1470) where the Yorkist Lord Lisle was attacked and killed by numerous supporters of Lord Berkeley. Berkeley went on to prosper under the Readeption of Henry VI and particularly the patronage of the Lancastrian Earl of Pembroke, Jasper Tudor, uncle of one Henry Tudor. On the eve of the battle of Tewkesbury (1471), Nicholas was knighted by Prince Edward in the field. The following day, the new knight lost his life fighting in the battle and his body was recovered and taken to the Abbey for burial.
Sir Nicholas’s brother, Sir John Hervey also fought at Tewkesbury but on the Yorkist side as he had done a few weeks previously at Barnet. Also at the battle was Lord William Berkeley fighting on the Yorkist side having changed allegiance to King Edward.