Family and Education

b. by 1509, s. of Sir George Herbert of St. Julian’s by Sibyl, da. of Sir Richard Croft^† of Croft Castle, Herefs. m. (1) by 1530, Mary, da. of Sir William Morgan of Pencoed, Mon., 3s. inc. George^† and William Herbert IV 3da.; (2) by 1544, Sibyl, da. of Sir Thomas Monington of Sarnsfield, Herefs., wid. of Arnold Butler of Dunraven. suc.fa. aft. 1504. Kntd. 10 Nov. 1549.1

Offices Held

Commr. clerical tenths, diocese of Llandaff 1535, relief, Mon. 1550; dep. steward of Henry Somerset, 2nd Earl of Worcester, S. Wales by 1537-8 or later; sheriff, Mon. 1541-2, 1550-d., j.p. 1543-d.2

Biography

The Herbert family of St. Julian’s, near Newport, was established by Sir George Herbert, third son of the William Herbert who was created Earl of Pembroke by Edward IV. Nothing has come to light about Walter Herbert’s upbringing or career until the 1530s when a quarrel with his father-in-law brought the pair into the Star Chamber. Other disputes about his title to land and advowsons, payment of rent and exercise of office under the Earl of Worcester involved him in further litigation and brought him regularly to the notice of the council in the marches and of Cromwell. The protection given him by his kinsman Worcester ensured that he emerged largely unscathed from repeated charges of corruption and maintaining criminals, and on the enforcement of the Act of Union he was given a place in local administration.3

Passed over as sheriff in favour of his cousin Charles Herbert in 1540, Herbert was pricked in the following year and during his shrievalty he returned the first Members for Monmouthshire and Monmouth Boroughs. After fighting in the Boulogne campaign he was himself elected with Charles Herbert in 1545, and two years later he helped to return his brother-in-law Sir Thomas Morgan and cousin Thomas Herbert. His knighthood in 1549 was a recognition of his public service and perhaps also a reward for supporting John Dudley, Earl of Warwick, in the overthrow of the Protector Somerset. Herbert was a sick man on 30 Sept. 1550 when he made his will providing for his wife and children and naming his son William executor and his kinsmen (Sir) William Herbert I and Matthew Herbert of Cogan Pill, Glamorganshire, overseers. In November he was chosen sheriff again and a month later he was named to the commission to supervise the collection of the third part of the relief, but on 17 Feb. 1551 his son William replaced him as sheriff. His will was proved ten days later and a monument was erected over his grave at St. Woollos near Newport.4

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Author: P. S. Edwards

Notes

• 1. Date of birth estimated from marriage. Bradney, Mon. iv(2), 295, 300-1; Dwnn, Vis. Wales, i. 76; G. T. Clark, Limbus Patrum Morganiae, 282; CPR, 1494-1509, p. 380.
• 2. LP Hen. VIII, viii, xiii; CPR, 1547-8, p. 87; 1553, p. 360; C193/12/1, C193/12/1.
• 3. LP Hen. VIII, vi, viii, xii-xv; St.Ch.2/18/36, 22/64, 23/214, 24/436, 28/436, 34/18; C1/650/15.
• 4. LP Hen. VIII, xvi, xix; Bradney, iv(2), 295; C219/19/62; PCC 7 Bucke.