The mystery of Fulke Greville
Occupying almost the entire Chapter House of St Mary’s in Warwick is the black marble sarcophagus of Fulke Greville, carved with this enigmatic inscription:
'FULKE GREVILL, SERVANT TO QUEENE ELIZABETH, CONCELLOR TO KING JAMES AND FRIEND TO SIR PHILLIP SIDNEY. TROPHAEUM PECCATI.'
Greville was heir to the Earl of Warwick and was responsible for the transformation of the dilapidated Warwick Castle into an elegant and luxurious residence. He formed a firm friendship with Sir Philip Sidney while at school. A sonnet written after Sidney was fatally wounded in battle in the Netherlands at the age of 31, shows how heartbroken he was at the loss of his friend. He also wrote a biography of Sidney, published in 1652.
Described as a soldier, lawyer and courtier, he was also an accomplished poet and is thought by some to have been the real author of some of Shakespeare’s sonnets. During his illustrious career, he held the position of Chancellor the Exchequer and was a Rear Admiral and was a close confidant of Queen Elizabeth 1.
In September 1628, he died of gangrene, having been stabbed by his manservant, who was apparently aggrieved by the terms of his master’s will. He was buried in the family vault at St Mary’s rather than in the ornate tomb he had designed. This has encouraged the idea that the tomb contains the body of Sir Philip Sidney buried in secret. Investigations continue.
