William Coventrie

fourth son of Tho. Lord Coventrie, sometimes Keeper of the Great Seal of England, by Elizabeth his wife, daughter of John Alderley of London, was born either in the City or Suburb of London, became a Gent. Com. of Queens Coll. in the beginning of the year 1642, aged 14 years; but leaving that house without a degree, he travelled beyond the Seas, and at his return seemed to adhere to the cause of K. Ch. 2. After his restauration he was elected a Burgess for the Town of Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, to serve in that Parliament which began at Westm. 8 May 1661, and two years after was actually created Doctor of the Civil Law of this University, being about that time Secretary to his Royal Highness James Duke of York. In 1665, Jun. 26, he received the honour of Knighthood from his Majesty, and was afterwards sworn one of his Majesties most honorable Privy Council, being then esteemed, upon all accounts, qualified for noble employments; for at that time, if I mistake not, he was Secretary to the Navy; (the said Duke being then General at Sea, in the Wars against the Dutch) by which employment he got a considerable estate in money, which ever after kept up his port according to his quality. But at length behaving himself displeasing to the said Duke, when there was need of him, he was removed from his service: whereupon setling at Minster Lovel near Witney in Oxfordshire, became much respected by the neighbouring Gentry; for whose sake, he was the first that found out a way for the ease of him, or them, that should bear the Office of Shrievelty: For whereas before, it was usual for the High Sheriff to expend four or five hundred pounds ere he could be quit of his Office, he then (in Octob. 1675) by certain Articles which he framed, and were afterwards subscribed by the Gentry to stand to, brought that sum to 50 or 60 l, and the first High Sheriff of Oxfordshire that enjoyed the benefit of the said Articles, was Sir Edm. Fetyplace of Swinbroke near Burford Baronet, who was elected to that office in Nov. the same year. Among several things which the said Sir Will. Coventrie wrot, and published, without his name set to them, were these.

Englands appeal from the private Cabal at Whitehall to the great Council of the Nation, the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled.—Printed 1673. in 7 sh. in qu.

Letter written to Dr. Gilb. Burnet, giving an account of Cardinal Pole’s secret powers: From which it appears that it was never intended to confirm the alienation which was made of the Abbey-Lands. To which are added two Breves that Card. Pole brought over, and some other of his Letters, that were never before printed. Lond. 1685. in 5 sh. in qu. He hath also written another thing, to which his name was set, intit.

The Character of a Trimmer. His opinion of 1. The Laws and Government, 2. Protestant Religion. 3. The Papists, 4. Forraign Affairs. Lond. 1689. in 6 sh. in qu. sec. edit. the first of which had not his name set to it. At length this honorable Knight retiring to Tunbridge Wells in Kent for the sake of the Water there to cure his distemper, died at Somerhill near thereunto, of the gout in the Stomach, which the Physitians took to be the Stone, on Wednesday 23 of June in sixteen hundred eighty and six;1686: whereupon his body was conveyed to Penshurst in the said County, and buried in the Church there. He bequeathed 2000 l. to the French Protestants that were then lately come into England upon their expulsion from their own Country upon account of Religion, and 3000 l. for the redemption of Captives at Algiers, as the current report then went, appointing Dr. Compton B. of London, and Dr. Jo. Fell B. of Oxon, Overseers of his gift.