Jump to content

John Fortescue of Salden: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→Career: 1603
Fix Linter errors.
 
(10 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
⚫
{{about|the 16th-century English statesman||John Fortescue (disambiguation)}}
{{short description|16th-century English politician and Chancellor of the Exchequer}}
{{short description|16th-century English politician and Chancellor of the Exchequer}}
⚫
{{about|the 16th-century English statesman||John Fortescue (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2016}}
Line 7: Line 7:


==Origins==
==Origins==
Fortescue was the son of [[Blessed Adrian Fortescue|Adrian Fortescue]] who was martyred and has been [[beatified]]. Sir John was a great-grandson of Sir Geoffrey [[Geoffrey Boleyn|Boleyn]], Lord Mayor of London (1457), and thus a second-cousin of [[Queen Elizabeth I]].<ref name="tudorplace.com.ar"/> His mother was Anne Reade, daughter of Sir William Reade.<ref name="tudorplace.com.ar">http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/FORTESCUE.htm#Adrian FORTESCUE of Salden (Sir Knight)</ref> He was descended from Sir Richard Fortescue, 3rd son of Sir [[John Fortescue (Captain of Meaux)|John Fortescue]] (died after 1432), Captain of the [[Meaux|Castle of Meaux]], of Shepham in the parish of [[Modbury]], Devon.<ref>[[John Lambrick Vivian|Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L.]], (Ed.) The Visitations of the County of Devon: Comprising the [[Heraldic visitation|Heralds' Visitations]] of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, pp.352-3</ref>
Fortescue was the son of [[Blessed Adrian Fortescue|Adrian Fortescue]], who was martyred and has been [[beatified]]. Sir John was a great-grandson of Sir Geoffrey [[Geoffrey Boleyn|Boleyn]], Lord Mayor of London (1457), and thus a second-cousin of [[Queen Elizabeth I]].<ref name="tudorplace.com.ar"/> His mother was Anne Reade, daughter of Sir William Reade.<ref name="tudorplace.com.ar">http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/FORTESCUE.htm#Adrian FORTESCUE of Salden (Sir Knight)</ref> He was descended from Sir Richard Fortescue, 3rd son of Sir [[John Fortescue (Captain of Meaux)|John Fortescue]] (died after 1432), Captain of the [[Meaux|Castle of Meaux]], of Shepham in the parish of [[Modbury]], Devon.<ref>[[John Lambrick Vivian|Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L.]], (Ed.) The Visitations of the County of Devon: Comprising the [[Heraldic visitation|Heralds' Visitations]] of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, pp. 352-353.</ref> He was restored in blood and to his estate at [[Shirburn]] in Oxfordshire in 1551.<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911 |inline=y |wstitle=Fortescue, Sir John (statesman) |display=Fortescue, Sir John |volume=10 |page=678}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
Fortescue led a largely undistinguished career in Parliament prior to his accession to the chancellorship, serving in several districts (including for [[Wallingford (UK Parliament constituency)|Wallingford]]), and he continued to serve in Parliament after losing that title. Fortescue also held the position of [[Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster]] from 1601 to his death. Fortescue served under [[Queen Elizabeth I]] and was knighted in 1592. He inherited the manor of [[Great Washbourne]] from his mother. <ref>{{cite web |last1=Elrington |first1=C R |title=Parishes: Great Washbourne Pages 232-237 A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume 6. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1965. |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/glos/vol6/pp232-237 |website=British History Online |access-date=2 August 2020}}</ref>
Fortescue acquired early a considerable reputation as a scholar and was chosen to direct the Princess Elizabeth's classical studies in [[Mary I of England|Mary's]] reign. On the accession of Elizabeth he was appointed [[Wardrobe (government)#The Great Wardrobe|keeper of the great wardrobe]].<ref name="EB1911"/> Starting in 1572 he led a largely undistinguished career in Parliament prior to his accession to the [[Chancellor of the Exchequer|chancellorship]] in 1589, serving in several districts (including for [[Wallingford (UK Parliament constituency)|Wallingford]]), and he continued to serve in Parliament after losing that title. He was also appointed to the [[Privy Council of England|Privy Council]] in 1589 and was [[knight]]ed in 1601.<ref name="EB1911"/> Fortescue also held the position of [[Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster]] from 1601 to his death. Fortescue served under [[Queen Elizabeth I]] and was knighted in 1592. He inherited the manor of [[Great Washbourne]] from his mother. <ref>{{cite web |last1=Elrington |first1=C R |title=Parishes: Great Washbourne Pages 232-237 A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume 6. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1965. |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/glos/vol6/pp232-237 |website=British History Online |access-date=2 August 2020}}</ref>

By means of his lucrative employments he amassed great wealth, with which he bought large estates in [[Oxfordshire]] and [[Buckinghamshire]], and kept up a large household. He took a prominent part in public business, was a member of the court of the [[Star Chamber]] and an ecclesiastical commissioner, sat on various important commissions, and as chancellor of the exchequer explained the queen's financial needs and proposed subsidies in parliament.<ref name="EB1911"/>

When [[King James I of England|King James I]] came to the throne in 1603 at the [[Union of the Crowns]], he stayed at Fortescue's house at [[Hendon]] in June 1603,<ref>John Nichols, ''Progresses of James the First'', vol. 1 (London, 1828), p. 165.</ref> and King James and [[Anne of Denmark]] stayed at his manor of Salden on 27 June.<ref>''HMC Salisbury Hatfield'', vol. 15 (London, 1930), p. 170.</ref> Fortescue was disappointed that the King requested he vacate the Chancellor's house to lodge the Scottish favourite [[George Home, 1st Earl of Dunbar|Sir George Home]].<ref>''HMC Salisbury Hatfield'', vol. 15 (London, 1930), p. 171.</ref>

⚫
Fortescue advocated restrictions on the King's power, in part in order to limit the appointment of [[Scotland|Scottish]] people. These reforms were not implemented, and as a result, James dismissed him from his position as Chancellor of the Exchequer.<ref>Neil Cuddy, "Revival of the Entourage", ''The English Court from the Wars of the Roses to the Civil War'' (London, 1987), p. 175.</ref> He retained, however, his position in Parliament and as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, as well as the keeper of the great wardrobe.<ref name="EB1911"/>


As keeper of the Great Wardrobe, in 1603 he issued some fabrics for Anne of Denmark's closet, for the use of her and her household in chapel. These included two palls of cloth of gold for two communion tables, fine linen diaper cloth for four communion tables or desks, fine Holland linen cloth for four other tables, linen for communion towels and four surplices, two bibles, two service books, and other items.<ref>[[Mary Anne Everett Green]], ''Calendar State Papers Domestic, 1603-1610'' (London, 1857), p. 12: See TNA SP 14/1 f.250.</ref>
⚫
When [[King James I of England|King James I]] came to the throne in 1603 at the [[Union of the Crowns]], he and [[Anne of Denmark]] stayed at his manor of Salden on 27 June.<ref>''HMC Salisbury Hatfield'', vol. 15 (London, 1930), p. 170.</ref> Fortescue advocated restrictions on the King's power, in part in order to limit the appointment of [[Scotland|Scottish]] people. These reforms were not implemented, and as a result, James dismissed him from his position as Chancellor of the Exchequer. He retained, however, his position in Parliament and as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, as well as the keeper of the great wardrobe.<ref>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle=Fortescue, Sir John (statesman) |display=Fortescue, Sir John |volume=10 |page=678}}</ref>


==Death and burial==
==Death and burial==
Fortescue was buried in [[Mursley]] Church in [[Buckinghamshire]], where a monument was erected in his honour.<ref name="jorge"/>
Fortescue was buried in [[Mursley]]'s parish church in [[Buckinghamshire]], where a monument was erected in his honour.<ref name="jorge"/>


==Family==
==Family==
Fortescue had six children with his first wife Cecilia Ashfield (d. 1571), daughter of Sir Edmund Ashfield of [[Ewelme]].<ref>[http://www.histparl.ac.uk/volume/1604-1629/member/fortescue-sir-john-1533-1607 Virginia C.D. Moseley & Rosemary Sgroi, 'FORTESCUE, Sir John (c.1533-1607), of Salden House, Mursley, Bucks.', ''The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1604-1629'', ed. Andrew Thrush and John P. Ferris, 2010.]</ref> Including:
Fortescue had six children with his first wife Cecilia Ashfield (d. 1571), daughter of Sir Edmund Ashfield of [[Ewelme]].<ref>[http://www.histparl.ac.uk/volume/1604-1629/member/fortescue-sir-john-1533-1607 Virginia C.D. Moseley & Rosemary Sgroi, 'FORTESCUE, Sir John (c.1533-1607), of Salden House, Mursley, Bucks.', ''The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1604-1629'', ed. Andrew Thrush and John P. Ferris, 2010.]</ref> Including:
* [[Francis Fortescue]] (1563-1624), who married in 1589 Grace Manners (d. 1624), daughter of Sir John Manners of [[Haddon Hall]], second son of [[Thomas Manners, 1st Earl of Rutland|Thomas Earl of Rutland]], and of [[Dorothy Vernon]] daughter and co-heir of Sir George Vernon. A daughter, Dorothy Vernon (d. 1650), married Sir Robert Throckmorton of Weston-Underwood and [[Coughton Court]].
* [[Francis Fortescue]] (1563–1624), who married in 1589 Grace Manners (d. 1624), daughter of Sir John Manners of [[Haddon Hall]], second son of [[Thomas Manners, 1st Earl of Rutland|Thomas Earl of Rutland]], and of [[Dorothy Vernon]] daughter and co-heir of Sir George Vernon. A daughter, Dorothy Vernon (d. 1650), married Sir Robert Throckmorton of Weston-Underwood and [[Coughton Court]].
* [[William Fortescue (died 1629)|William Fortescue]] of Salden (1562-1629).<ref>[http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1604-1629/member/fortescue-sir-william-1562-1629 Virginia C.D. Moseley & Rosemary Sgroi, 'FORTESCUE, Sir William (c.1562-1629), of Salden House, Mursley, Bucks.; Westminster and Clerkenwell', ''The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1604-1629'', ed. Andrew Thrush and John P. Ferris, 2010.]</ref>
* [[William Fortescue (died 1629)|William Fortescue]] of Salden (1562–1629).<ref>[http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1604-1629/member/fortescue-sir-william-1562-1629 Virginia C.D. Moseley & Rosemary Sgroi, 'FORTESCUE, Sir William (c.1562-1629), of Salden House, Mursley, Bucks.; Westminster and Clerkenwell', ''The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1604-1629'', ed. Andrew Thrush and John P. Ferris, 2010.]</ref>
* Eleanor Fortescue (1579-1605), who married (1) in 1585, Valentine Piggot (2) Edward Hobart.
* Eleanor Fortescue (1579–1605), who married (1) in 1585, Valentine Piggot (2) Edward Hobart.
He had a daughter with seventh with his second wife, Alice Smith, daughter of [[Christopher Smith (MP)|Christopher Smith]] of Annables, Hertfordshire, and widow of Richard Robson:
He had a seventh daughter with his second wife, Alice Smith, daughter of [[Christopher Smith (MP, died 1589)|Christopher Smith]] of Annables, Hertfordshire, and widow of Richard Robson:
* Margery Fortescue (d. 1613), who married Sir John Pulteney of [[Misterton with Walcote|Misterton]], Leicestershire (1585-1617).<ref>[http://www.histparl.ac.uk/volume/1604-1629/member/pulteney-sir-john-1585-1617 Rosemary Sgroi, 'PULTENEY, Sir John (1585-1617), of Misterton, Leics.', ''The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1604-1629'', ed. Andrew Thrush and John P. Ferris, 2010.]</ref>
* Margery Fortescue (d. 1613), who married Sir John Pulteney of [[Misterton with Walcote|Misterton]], Leicestershire (1585–1617).<ref>[http://www.histparl.ac.uk/volume/1604-1629/member/pulteney-sir-john-1585-1617 Rosemary Sgroi, 'PULTENEY, Sir John (1585–1617), of Misterton, Leics.', ''The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1604-1629'', ed. Andrew Thrush and John P. Ferris, 2010.]</ref>


Many of his children followed his path in politics, holding positions in Parliament.<ref name= "jorge">[http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Bios/JohnFortescueofSalden.htm Sir John Fortescue of Salden] by Jorge H. Castelli, accessed 16 July 2006</ref> In 1621 Alice Fortescue, the widow of John Fortescue, sold [[Tickford Priory]] in [[Newport Pagnell]] to the royal physician, [[Henry Atkins (physician)|Dr Henry Atkins]] for £4,500.<ref>Thomas Fortescue, 1st Baron Clermont, ''Works of Sir John Fortescue'', vol. 2 (London 1869), p. 288.</ref>
Many of his children followed his path in politics, holding positions in Parliament.<ref name= "jorge">[http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Bios/JohnFortescueofSalden.htm Sir John Fortescue of Salden] by Jorge H. Castelli, accessed 16 July 2006</ref> In 1621 Alice Fortescue, the widow of John Fortescue, sold [[Tickford Priory]] in [[Newport Pagnell]] to the royal physician, [[Henry Atkins (physician)|Dr Henry Atkins]] for £4,500.<ref>Thomas Fortescue, 1st Baron Clermont, ''Works of Sir John Fortescue'', vol. 2 (London 1869), p. 288.</ref>

Latest revision as of 20:39, 20 September 2024

This article is about the 16th-century English statesman. For other uses, see John Fortescue (disambiguation).

Sir John Fortescue

Sir John Fortescue (ca. 1531 or 1533 – 23 December 1607) of Salden Manor, near Mursley, Buckinghamshire, was the seventh Chancellor of the Exchequer of England, serving from 1589 until 1603.

Origins

[edit]

Fortescue was the son of Adrian Fortescue, who was martyred and has been beatified. Sir John was a great-grandson of Sir Geoffrey Boleyn, Lord Mayor of London (1457), and thus a second-cousin of Queen Elizabeth I.[1] His mother was Anne Reade, daughter of Sir William Reade.[1] He was descended from Sir Richard Fortescue, 3rd son of Sir John Fortescue (died after 1432), Captain of the Castle of Meaux, of Shepham in the parish of Modbury, Devon.[2] He was restored in blood and to his estate at Shirburn in Oxfordshire in 1551.[3]

Career

[edit]

Fortescue acquired early a considerable reputation as a scholar and was chosen to direct the Princess Elizabeth's classical studies in Mary's reign. On the accession of Elizabeth he was appointed keeper of the great wardrobe.[3] Starting in 1572 he led a largely undistinguished career in Parliament prior to his accession to the chancellorship in 1589, serving in several districts (including for Wallingford), and he continued to serve in Parliament after losing that title. He was also appointed to the Privy Council in 1589 and was knighted in 1601.[3] Fortescue also held the position of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from 1601 to his death. Fortescue served under Queen Elizabeth I and was knighted in 1592. He inherited the manor of Great Washbourne from his mother. [4]

By means of his lucrative employments he amassed great wealth, with which he bought large estates in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, and kept up a large household. He took a prominent part in public business, was a member of the court of the Star Chamber and an ecclesiastical commissioner, sat on various important commissions, and as chancellor of the exchequer explained the queen's financial needs and proposed subsidies in parliament.[3]

When King James I came to the throne in 1603 at the Union of the Crowns, he stayed at Fortescue's house at Hendon in June 1603,[5] and King James and Anne of Denmark stayed at his manor of Salden on 27 June.[6] Fortescue was disappointed that the King requested he vacate the Chancellor's house to lodge the Scottish favourite Sir George Home.[7]

Fortescue advocated restrictions on the King's power, in part in order to limit the appointment of Scottish people. These reforms were not implemented, and as a result, James dismissed him from his position as Chancellor of the Exchequer.[8] He retained, however, his position in Parliament and as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, as well as the keeper of the great wardrobe.[3]

As keeper of the Great Wardrobe, in 1603 he issued some fabrics for Anne of Denmark's closet, for the use of her and her household in chapel. These included two palls of cloth of gold for two communion tables, fine linen diaper cloth for four communion tables or desks, fine Holland linen cloth for four other tables, linen for communion towels and four surplices, two bibles, two service books, and other items.[9]

Death and burial

[edit]

Fortescue was buried in Mursley's parish church in Buckinghamshire, where a monument was erected in his honour.[10]

Family

[edit]

Fortescue had six children with his first wife Cecilia Ashfield (d. 1571), daughter of Sir Edmund Ashfield of Ewelme.[11] Including:

He had a seventh daughter with his second wife, Alice Smith, daughter of Christopher Smith of Annables, Hertfordshire, and widow of Richard Robson:

  • Margery Fortescue (d. 1613), who married Sir John Pulteney of Misterton, Leicestershire (1585–1617).[13]

Many of his children followed his path in politics, holding positions in Parliament.[10] In 1621 Alice Fortescue, the widow of John Fortescue, sold Tickford Priory in Newport Pagnell to the royal physician, Dr Henry Atkins for £4,500.[14]

The house he built at Salden was demolished. A chair carved with the Fortescue and Ashfield heraldry, presumably from the house, was found in an antique shop in Aylesbury in 1873 and bought by a descendant, Thomas Fortescue, 1st Baron Clermont.[15]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/FORTESCUE.htm#Adrian FORTESCUE of Salden (Sir Knight)
  2. ^ Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitations of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, pp. 352-353.
  3. ^ a b c d e  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Fortescue, Sir John". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 10 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 678.
  4. ^ Elrington, C R. "Parishes: Great Washbourne Pages 232-237 A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume 6. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1965". British History Online. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  5. ^ John Nichols, Progresses of James the First, vol. 1 (London, 1828), p. 165.
  6. ^ HMC Salisbury Hatfield, vol. 15 (London, 1930), p. 170.
  7. ^ HMC Salisbury Hatfield, vol. 15 (London, 1930), p. 171.
  8. ^ Neil Cuddy, "Revival of the Entourage", The English Court from the Wars of the Roses to the Civil War (London, 1987), p. 175.
  9. ^ Mary Anne Everett Green, Calendar State Papers Domestic, 1603-1610 (London, 1857), p. 12: See TNA SP 14/1 f.250.
  10. ^ a b Sir John Fortescue of Salden by Jorge H. Castelli, accessed 16 July 2006
  11. ^ Virginia C.D. Moseley & Rosemary Sgroi, 'FORTESCUE, Sir John (c.1533-1607), of Salden House, Mursley, Bucks.', The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1604-1629, ed. Andrew Thrush and John P. Ferris, 2010.
  12. ^ Virginia C.D. Moseley & Rosemary Sgroi, 'FORTESCUE, Sir William (c.1562-1629), of Salden House, Mursley, Bucks.; Westminster and Clerkenwell', The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1604-1629, ed. Andrew Thrush and John P. Ferris, 2010.
  13. ^ Rosemary Sgroi, 'PULTENEY, Sir John (1585–1617), of Misterton, Leics.', The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1604-1629, ed. Andrew Thrush and John P. Ferris, 2010.
  14. ^ Thomas Fortescue, 1st Baron Clermont, Works of Sir John Fortescue, vol. 2 (London 1869), p. 288.
  15. ^ Records of Buckinghamshire, vol. 4, p. 186.
Political offices
Preceded by Chancellor of the Exchequer
1589–1603 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Custos Rotulorum of Buckinghamshire
1594–1600 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
1601–1607 		Succeeded by
Parliament of England
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire
1588–1598
With: Thomas Tasburgh 1588–1589
Sir Robert Dormer 1593
Francis Goodwin1597–1598 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Middlesex
1601
With: Sir Robert Wroth 		Succeeded by
Sir Robert Wroth
Sir W. Fleetwood
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Fortescue_of_Salden&oldid=1246745561"