Henry Elsynge

eldest Son of Hen. Els. Esq and he the Son of another Henry a Citizen of London, Son of John Elsynge of Daxworth in Cambridgshire, was ((a))((a)) Reg. Matric. Univ. Ox. PP. fol. 22. b. born in Surrey; particularly, as I conceive, at Battersey, where his Father (who was Clerk of the Lords House of Parliament, and a Person of great abilities) mostly lived, educated in Grammar learning in Westminster School under Mr. Lamb. Osbaldeston, a Person very fortunate in breeding up many Wits, became Commoner of Ch. Church in the beginning of the year 1622, took one degree in Arts, and afterwards, at several times, spent more than 7 years in travelling through various Countries beyond the Seas; whereby he became so accomplished, that, at his last return, his company and conversation was not only desired by many of the Nobility, but Clergy also; and was so highly valued by Dr. Laud Archb of Canterbury, that he procured him the place of Clerk of the House of Commons. This crown’d his former labours, and by it he had opportunity given to manifest his rare abilities, which in short time became so conspicuous, especially in taking and expressing the sense of the House, that none (as ’twas believed) that ever sate there, exceeded him. He was also so great a help to the Speaker ((b))((b)) Memorials of Engl. Affaires, under the 1648. p. 359. a. and the House in helping to state the questions, and to draw up the orders free from exceptions, that it much conduced to the dispatch of business and the service of the Parliament. His discretion also and prudence was such, that tho faction kept that fatal, commonly called the Long, Parliament in continual storm and disorder, yet his fair and temperate carriage made him commended and esteemed by all parties how furious and opposite soever they were among themselves. And therefore it was, that for these his abilities and prudence, more reverence was paid to his stool than to the Speakers (Lenthall) Chair, who being obnoxious, timorous and interested, was often much confused in collecting the sense of the House, and drawing the debates into a fair question; in which Mr. Elsynge was always observed to be so ready and just, that generally the House acquiesced in what he did of that nature. At length when he saw that the greater part of the House were imprisoned and secluded, and that the remainder would bring the King to a trial for his life, he desired to quit his place 26. of Dec. 1648, by reason (as he alledged) of his indisposition of health, but most men understood the reason to be, because he would have no hand in the business against the King. He was a Man of very great parts, and ingenious education, and was very learned, especially in the Latine, French and Italian Languages. He was beloved of all sober Men, and the learned Selden had a fondness for him. He hath written,

The antient method and manner of holding Parliaments in England. Lond. 1663. oct. 1675. in tw. mostly taken, as I presume, from a Manuscript book intit.—Modus tenendi Parliamentum apud Anglos: Of the forme, and all things incident thereunto, digested and divided into several chapters and titles, an. 1626, written by Hen. Elsynge Father to the aforesaid Henry, who died while his Son was in his Travels.

Tract concerning proceedings in Parliament—This is a Ms. and was sometimes in the hands of Sir Matthew Hale, who in his Will bequeathed it to Lincolns inn Library.

Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom—This is a Pamphlet in quarto, but when printed I cannot tell. After he had quitted his beneficial Office, he retired to his house at Hounslow in Middlesex, where contracting many infirmities of body occasioned by sedentariness, some distresses of his family, and by a deep melancholy for the sufferings and loss of his Sovereign, concluded his last day about the middle of the month of August, in sixteen hundred fifty and four, and in that of his age 56:1654. Whereupon his body was buried in his private Chappel (which is the burying place of his Family) at Hounslow, he having no other Epitaph or Monument than the Eulogie given as due to him by all that knew him. He left behind certain Tracts and Memorials of his own writing, but so imperfect, that his Executor would by no means have them published, least they should prove injurious to his worth and memory.