John Wenlock, 1st Baron Wenlock

[1] He has been called "the prince of turncoats",[2] although some historians suggest the label may not be fair as this behavior was commonplace during the Wars of the Roses.

"[2] Although Wenlock is often remembered for his military exploits (he fought in six of the major battles of the Wars of the Roses, as well as the sieges of the Tower of London and Dunstanburgh Castle), most of his public service was in the diplomatic field, and contemporary accounts record him as being regarded as "very clever".

John Wenlock took part in the invasion of France under Henry V of England, and on 16 August 1421 he received a grant of lands in the bailiwick of Gisors in Normandy, and shortly after, in April 1422, is styled constable of Vernon.

[4] He was escheator for Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire in 1438–9, and he early entered the service of Margaret of Anjou, being first usher of the chamber, and about 1450 chamberlain to her.

During the Wars of the Roses, Wenlock initially fought for the House of Lancaster in the First Battle of St Albans on 22 May 1455, but his relationship with Warwick subsequently led him to change sides, and it was as a Yorkist that he served as Speaker of the House of Commons later that year in the parliament of 1455.

Later in the year he received appointment as Chief Butler of England and was made Baron Wenlock.

[5] He continued to undertake diplomatic missions for Edward IV, and had command of Calais for him (possibly as deputy of Warwick).

His first wife, Elizabeth Drayton (who was the widow of Christopher Preston) died in the early 1460s after being married to him for over 30 years.

Sir John Wenlock, as portrayed in stained glass window in the Wenlock chapel at St. Mary's Church , Luton .
The Wenlock chapel.
Arms of Sir John Wenlock, 1st Baron Wenlock KG.
Image of the Battle of Tewkesbury , where Wenlock was killed, in a Ghent manuscript.