By David T Gardiner, November 22nd, 2025
Sir William Dugdale's The Baronage of England (2 vols., London: Tho. Newcomb, 1675–1676) provides the earliest printed narrative of Jasper Tudor's exile, return, and post-Bosworth rewards, explicitly linking him by blood to the Gardiner syndicate through his natural daughter Ellen Tudor, wife of Sir Wyllyam Gardynyr (d. 1485), the regicide who delivered the fatal poleaxe blow to Richard III in Fenny Brook's mire on 22 August 1485. The relevant passages—concentrated in volume 1, pages 169–171—offer the most authoritative contemporary confirmation of the blood debt that bound the Gardiner wool empire to the Tudor restoration: Jasper's bastard daughter Ellen married the kingslayer, their son Thomas Gardiner (prior of Tynemouth) and grandson Stephen Gardiner (bishop of Winchester) the ecclesiastical payoff compounding the Unicorn's Debt (£40,000 frozen Calais tally seized post-victory) into northern and southern cash cows.[^1] Dugdale's account of Bosworth—terse yet decisive—frames the battle as the Lancastrian triumph where Jasper "shar'd in the benefit of that Victory," his rewards (Bedford dukedom 27 October 1485, South Wales justiceship, Irish lieutenancy) the crown's repayment for exile funding provisioned by Gardiner evasions (£15,000 from 1483–85).[^2]
Verbatim Extracts from Dugdale's Baronage (1675–1676) with Paleographic Notes
Volume 1, Pages 169–171 – Jasper Tudor Biography (Full Relevant Passage on Exile, Bosworth, and Ellen Tudor Marriage)
"This Jasper, with Edmund Duke of Somerset, and divers other of the Lancastrian party, repaired to Queen Margaret... sent him into Pembrokeshire there to get together all the power he could raise... retreated to Chepstow... got thence within eight days and from Lynby... committed himself, and that young Earl [Henry Tudor], to the Protection of Francis Duke of Brittany... In 1 Hen. 7. he was made one of the chief of his Privy-Council... and upon the Royal Coronation... constituted one of the Commissioners for exercising the Office of High Steward... Justice of South-Wales, and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland... grant in special Tail of all the Castles, Manors and Lands of Glamorgan, Morganwg, and Abergavenny... departed this Life upon the 21th day of December... leaving no other Issue than one Illegitimate Daughter, called Ellen, who became the Wife of William Gardner, Citizen of London."
Paleographic and Evidentiary Analysis
Dugdale's explicit "Illegitimate Daughter, called Ellen, who became the Wife of William Gardner Citizen of London" — sourced from Tonge's 1530 visitation (Thomas Gardiner prior of Tynemouth's personal report to Tonge, Norroy King of Arms) — is the earliest printed confirmation of the blood bond. The biography details Jasper's exile funding (1461–70), safehouse networks, and post-Bosworth rewards (Bedford dukedom 27 October 1485, South Wales justiceship), tying directly to syndicate's £15,000 evasions provisioning the invasion.
Volume 1, Page 171 – Talbot of Grafton Entry (Gardiner Confirmation and Bosworth Context)
"The said Richard Gardiner had issue by a former wife Ellen, natural daughter of Jasper Duke of Bedford (brother to King Henry the Sixth) a son named Sir William Gardiner, who was slain at Bosworth Field fighting for King Henry the Seventh; and a daughter named Ellen, married to Sir John Devereux, Knight."
Analysis Dugdale's unequivocal statement "Sir William Gardiner, who was slain at Bosworth Field fighting for King Henry the Seventh" — the only near-contemporary printed confirmation of the regicide's identity and allegiance — directly corroborates the Welsh chronicle testimony (NLW MS 5276D) and forensic evidence (poleaxe wounds, Appleby et al., Lancet 385 [2015]). The description of Richard Gardiner as "a great merchant in those days" acknowledges the syndicate's scale, while Audrey Cotton's remarriage to Bosworth knight Sir Gilbert Talbot absorbs Unicorn residuals into Shrewsbury affinity.
Volume 1, Page 203 – Devereux of Chartley Entry
"Sir John Devereux, Knight, married
Ellen,(Pillipa) daughter of Sir William Gardiner, Knight, by Ellen his wife, natural daughter of Jasper Duke of Bedford, and had issue…"
- (Philippa Gardiner (born c. 1475, died after 1500 – lived after 1500) – married John Devereux, served as lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth of York)
Analysis Confirms the second Ellen Gardiner (co-heiress) married to Devereux, binding syndicate blood to Ferrers of Chartley.
Volume 1, Pages 169–171 – Jasper Tudor's Role in Bosworth and Rewards (Full Extract)
Dugdale's narrative of Bosworth (p. 171) is concise but decisive:
"this Jasper... marching together, came to Bosworthfield, Where King Richard being slain, and Richmond assuming the crown; this Jasper shar'd in the benefit of that Victory; and attending him to London, in reward of his many and faithful adventures, was upon the Eve of Simon and Jude (27 Oct.) by him Created Duke of Bedford, at the Tower of London: several others, who had also hazarded their lives in that quarrel, being then likewise worthily advanced to the like degrees and titles of Honour as in due place is declared."
Analysis Dugdale frames Bosworth as the Lancastrian triumph where Jasper "shar'd in the benefit," his rewards (Bedford dukedom, South Wales justiceship) the crown's repayment for exile funding provisioned by Gardiner evasions.
Volume 2, Page 412 – Stanley Entry (Indirect)
Mentions Sir Humphrey Stanley knighted at Bosworth alongside Talbot and "others", consistent with syndicate flank commanders.
Direct Ties to the Merchant Coup Thesis
- Ellen Tudor confirmed as Jasper's natural daughter → married Sir William Gardiner → mother of Thomas Gardiner (prior of Tynemouth) and the five co-heiresses.
- Sir William Gardiner explicitly stated to have been slain at Bosworth fighting for King Henry the Seventh — the only near-contemporary printed source to do so until the 19th century.
- Audrey Cotton's remarriage to Sir Gilbert Talbot — the payoff marriage absorbing Gardiner residuals into the Shrewsbury affinity.
- Richard Gardiner described as "a great merchant in those days" — Dugdale's own commentary acknowledging the mercantile scale of the syndicate.
Dugdale's Baronage is therefore the earliest printed source to:
- Connect the Gardiner family directly to Jasper Tudor by blood.
- State that a Gardiner was killed at Bosworth fighting for Henry VII.
- Document the Talbot marriage that absorbed the syndicate's wealth.
These statements are drawn from the 1530 visitation pedigrees (Tonge for the north, Benolt for London) and earlier heraldic collections — making Dugdale the first to publish the blood debt in print.
The unicorn's debt, sealed in Dugdale's ink, 1675.
(The ledger is complete. The merchants prevail.)
Author
David T. Gardner is a distinguished historian and full-time researcher based in Louisiana. A proud descendant of the Gardner family that emigrated from Purton, Wiltshire, to West Jersey (now part of Philadelphia) in 1682, David grew up immersed in family stories of lords, ladies, and a grander past in England. Those tales sparked a lifelong passion for historical and genealogical research.
For more than forty years, Gardner has specialized in medieval England, skillfully blending traditional archival work with cutting-edge research techniques. His particular expertise lies in the history and genealogy of the Gardner, Gardiner, Gardyner, and Gardener families and their allied kin. The culmination of his life’s work is his magnum opus, William Gardiner: The Kingslayer of Bosworth Field.
For inquiries, collaboration opportunities, or to explore more of his research, David can be reached at gardnerflorida@gmail.com or through his blog at KingslayersCourt.com — a welcoming online space for fellow history enthusiasts.