SADLER (or SADLEIR ) , SIR RALPH (1507-1587), English statesman, the son of Henry Sadler, steward of the manor of Cilney, near Great Hadham, Hertfordshire, was born at Hackney, Middlesex, in 1507. While a child he was placed in the family of Thomas Cromwell, afterwards earl of Essex, whose secretary he eventually became. Sadler held many positions under Henry VIII., but he is best known for his employment under Elizabeth in connection with the affair of Mary, Queen of Scots. Elizabeth sent him (1559) to Scotland, ostensibly to settle the border dis putes, but in reality to secure a union with the Protestant party there, and he helped to arrange the treaty of Leith, July 6, 156o. In 1568 Sadler was appointed chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, and in the same year was one of the English commis sioners employed in treating on the matters arising from the flight of the Queen of Scots. From this time he seems to have
been continually engaged as a discreet and trusty servant in connection with Mary's captivity, and was frequently sent with messages to her. On Aug. 25, 1584, when, owing to the imputa tions made by his countess, George 6th earl of Shrewsbury re signed his guardianship of the Queen, Sadler succeeded him. In September Mary was removed from Sheffield to Wingfield and thence early in 1585 to Tutbury. In April, Sadler, after numer ous petitions on his part, was permitted to resign his distasteful charge. On March 3o, 1587, Sadler died at Standon, and was buried there. His letters on Scottish affairs are most interesting.
BiBuoGRApHy.—Letters and Negotiations of Sir Ralph Sadler (Edin burgh, 1720) ; The State Papers and Letters of Sir R. Sadler, ed. Arthur Clifford, with a memoir by Sir Walter Scott (Edinburgh, 1809,3 vols.) .