William Lenthall

second Son of Will. Lenth. of Lachford in Oxfordshire, by Frances his Wife, Daughter of Sir Tho. Southwell of St. Faiths in the County of Norfolk, was born in a Market Town called Henley upon Thames in the said County of Oxon, in an house near to the Church there, in the latter end of June 1591, descended from Will. ((e))((e)) The said Will. Lenthall died on the 28. June 1497. (12. Hen. 7.) and was buried in the South Isle joyning to the body of the Church of Great Haseley in Com. Oxon. Lenthall or Leynthall a Gentleman of Herefordshire, who in the beginning of K. Edw. 4. married ((f))((f)) So John Leland in his Second Vol. of Itineraries p. 8. but in a Visitation book of Oxfordshire made by one of the Heralds, I find that Will. Lenthall of Lachford married Catherine Dau. of John Badby by Jane his Wife Daugh. and Heir of Rich. Pyperd. with the Dau. and Heir of .... Pyperd of Lachford before mention’d. Which Pyperd also was descended from a younger Son of those of his name living at Great Haseley in Oxfordshire; who, I mean the said younger Son, (much in renown in the beginning of K. Edw. 3.) performed military acts so valiantly against the Scots, that he did not only receive the honour of Knighthood from the King, but the mannour ((g))((g)) Ibid. in 2. Vol. Lel. p. 8. of Lachford from his Father, to hold by Kings service of the mannour of Pyperd of Great Haseley before mention’d, in which Parish Lachford is situated. It is here to be noted by the way, that both the Haselies did for many descents ((h))((h)) Ibid. p. 7. belong to the Pyperds, whose mannour-place was the same, which is now the Farm-place, situated near to the Church. But the Male line being there worn out in the raign of Ed. 3. the said mannour place, with the patronage of the rectory of Haseley, was given to the College at Windsore; of the Dean and Canons of which, the said Farm-place is, and hath been for several generations, held by the said Lenthalls. As for Little Haseley, now called Haseley Court, (where in the time of K. Hen. 8. was ((i))((i)) Ib. p. 8. a right fair mansion place, with marvellous fair walks toperarii operis and orchard and pools, belonging to Sir Will. Barentine, whose Daughter Marie, Anth. Huddleston Esq. took to Wife) was also numbred among the antient possessions of the Pyperds, and was held of their mannour by Knights service. As for this Will. Lenthall, of whom we are now to speak, he became a Commoner of S. Albans Hall in the year 1606, where continuing about 3 years, departed without the honour of a degree, and went to Lincolns Inn, where applying his mind to the study of the municipal Law, became a Counsellor of note, and in the 13. of Ch. 1. Lent-reader of the said Inn, being then, as before, noted for his practice in his profession. In the latter end of 1639 he was elected Burgess for the Corporation of Woodstock in Oxfordsh. to serve in that short Parliament which began at Westm. 13. of Apr. 1640, and in Oct. following, he was chose again for the same place to serve in that unhappy Convention called the Long Parliament, begun 3. of Nov. the same year: At which time being elected Speaker, (worth to him 2000 l. per an.) he kept that honorable office, by siding with the leading Party, till its dissolution, without any adherance to the King, when, by force, he left that Parliament. Whether he acted justly in his place, ’tis to be question’d, forasmuch as he was not only false to the members thereof in many things, but also kept correspondence with that noted Minister of State in France Cardinal Julius Mazarini, as ’tis very well known. Being thus put into the road to get beneficial places, and so consequently riches, which he hungred after, by the continual importunities of his covetous Wife named Elizabeth, Dau. of Ambrose Evans of Lodington in Northamptonshire Gent, he became Master of the Rolls 8 Nov. 1643 worth, as ’tis said, 3000 l. per an, one of the Commissioners of the Great Seal, 1646, worth 1500 l. per an, Chamberlain of Chester, 1647, in the room of James E. of Derby, a place of profit, as well as honour; which last he occupying till 1654, was succeeded by John Glynn Lord Ch. Justice, but obtained it again 14. March 1659. About the same time (1647) he became Chancellour of the Dutchy of Lancaster worth 1000 l. per an. and any thing else that he desired. Besides these honourable places, he had 6000 l. at one time given to him by the Parliament, and at another, the Rectory and Demesness of Burford in Oxfordshire, with a stately house there, lately belonging to Lucius Viscount Falkland, as the Author of the ((*))((*)) Printed at Lond. in oct. an. 1660. p 17 Mystery of the good old cause reports, but falsly as I suppose, for about the year 1634 the said Will. Lenthall did, for the sum of 7000 l. or thereabouts, purchase of the said Lucius the Priory house (the stately house before mention’d) and Land belonging thereunto, descended to him from Elizabeth Dau. and Heir of Sir Laurence Tanfeild Lord Chief Baron of the Exchecquer, sometimes the Wife of Henry Lord Falkland Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Father of Lucius. In Aug. 1648 when there was a debate in the Parliament house whether the Treaty should be with the King in the Isle of Wight, upon the propositions of Hampton Court, there were for it 57 yeas, and against it 57 noes: Whereupon he, as Speaker, turn’d the Scales to yeas, which was the best thing he ever did. Oliver once made a spunge of, and squeez’d from, him, 15000 l. and turning him (and his tribe the Long Parliament) out of doors, in 1653, after he had sate it out in all changes and resisted many storms, and high complaints against him, he veered about to save himself, his great offices, and chiefly to avoid a new encounter or frown from the present power. So that he, that had been so long the Belweather in the H. of Commons, was thought fit for his compliance and money to be one of the Other House. In 1654 he was elected one of the Knights of Oxfordshire, and Burgess for the City of Glocester to serve in that Parliament called by Oliver, to meet at Westm. 3. of Sept. the same year; of which Parliament he was chosen Speaker. When that Convention call’d the Rump Parliament was invited by the Army to sit again 6 May 1659 (for they had been turn’d out by Oliver in 1653) he became Speaker also, as he had been before, and on the 23 of the said month, he was constituted and appointed Keeper of the Great Seal for the Commonwealth of England for eight days only next ensuing. But that Parliament (which was filled up by the members, secluded thence in 1648) being dissolved on the 16 of March following, he endeavoured by his Agents to be chose a Burgess for the University of Oxon, to serve in that Parliament which began at Westm. 25 Apr. 1660, as at one or two places besides, where he had canvas’d for votes; but missing his design, he retired in private, and endeavoured to hide, or convey away, the vast deluge of wealth, which he had obtained, as also to secure to his posterity that estate he had purchased in the name of other People. But being at length to be called to an accompt for what he had done, the Healing Parliament that then met, resolved on the eleventh of June, that he the said Will. Lenthall be one of the twenty to be excepted out of the general Act of indempnity and oblivion, to suffer such pains, penalties, and forfeitures (not extending to life) as shall be thought fit to be inflicted by an Act hereafter to be made for that purpose. But that Act being soon after made, I find therein that if he the said Will. Lenthall should after the first of Sept. 1660 accept or exercise any office Ecclesiastical, Civil, or Military, should, to all intents and purposes in Law, stand as if he had been totally excepted by name in the said Act. And well it was that he escaped so, for had it not been for his money and the mercy of his ((*))((*)) It is to be observed that when, with some difficulty, he obtained leave to kiss the Kings hand, after his return from exile, he, out of guilt fell backward, as he was kneeling. Prince, whereby he got a general pardon, he might have been totally sequestred of his Estate and made perpetual Prisoner. So that then being free, he became a witness on the Kings side against Tho. Scot the Regicide, when he and others of that gang were to be tried for their lives: And afterwards retiring to his house at Burford before mention’d, where he built a pretty Chappel joyning thereunto, shewing great love to Scholars and the neighbouring Clergy, we heard no more of him till the time of his death. He was a Person very inconstant and wavering in his Principles, of a slavish temper, a taker of all Oathes, whether Covenant, or engagement, or those to be faithful to Oliver and Richard, besides what he had before done to K. James and K. Ch. 1. He minded mostly the heaping up of riches, and was so besotted in raising and setling a family, that he minded not the least good, that might accrue to his Prince. As for those things that are published under his name, as either utter’d or written by him, are these following.

Several Speeches as (1) Sp. to his Maj. in the High Court of Parl. 5. Nov. 1640, when he was presented Speaker. (2) Sp. at his presenting these 3 Bills 1. for the shortning of Mich. term, 2. For the pressing of Marriners for the Kings Ships. 3. For the remainder of 6 intire subsidies. (3) Sp. in Parl. 13. May 1641. (4) Sp. in the Lords House of Parl. 22 Jun. 1641. concerning the bill for Tonnage and Poundage. (5) Sp. before the K. in the Lords H. of Parl. 3 Jul. 1641. concerning the passing of three bills, viz. of Poll-money, Star-Chamber and High Commission. (6) Sp. to both Houses of Parl. at the passing of the bill for Tonnage and Poundage, 2 Dec. 1641. (7) Sp. to Sir Tho. Fairfax Gen. of the Parl. Army, to congratulate his success and victories over the Kings Army, 14 Nov. 1646. (8) Sp. to his Excellency Sir Tho. Fairfax General, after the Army had granted the members of Parl. to sit in safety, 6 Aug. 1647.

Several Letters, as (1) Letter to Sir Jac. Ashley, 4 May 1641. (2) Let. to the Vicech. and Heads of Houses of the Univ. of Oxon, together with the protestation and declaration with it, 8 Feb. 1641. (3) Let. to the Sheriffs of several Counties by the command of the H. of C. an. 1641. (4) Let. to all Corporations in England and to the Justices of Peace of all Counties, written about the same time. (5) Let. to the K. concerning the great affairs and state of the Kingdom. (6) Let. (with that of the Speaker of the H. of Lords) to the Lords, Justices and Council of the Kingdom of Ireland, dat. 4 Jul. 1643.

Declaration, wherein is contained the grounds and reasons that moved him to absent himself from the service of the House, on Friday 30 Jul. 1647. Oxon. 1647. in one sh. in qu. This Declaration was written upon occasion of his going away with the Mace, and a party of the H. of Com. with him, to the Army at Windsore.

Arguments, whereby Monarchy is asserted to be the best, most antient and legal form of Government; in a Conference held at Whitehall with Oliver L. Protector and a Committee of Parl. in Apr. 1657—Printed at Lond. with the Arguments and Speeches of other persons to the same purpose an. 1660. in oct. The design was to perswade Oliver to take upon him the Kingship of Gr. Britain and Ireland. All which Pamphlets, one excepted, were printed at Lond. in qu, and not one of them exceeds the quantity of a sheet of paper. I am perswaded that many more are extant under his name, or at least written by him without any name set to them, but such I have not yet seen. At length after a great deal of moyling, turmoyling, perfidiousness, and I know not what, he laid down his head and died in his house at Burford before mention’d, on that memorable day the third of Septemb. in sixteen hundred sixty and two, and two days after was buried without pomp in a little isle on the north side of the Church there,1662. next below that isle where the costly tomb of Sir Laur. Tanfeild stands. At that time the body of his only Wife Elizabeth, who died the 19 of April foregoing (buried in the Communion Chancel of Burford Church) was taken up and laid close to that of her Husband. He forbad, as I have been informed, any excessive costs at his funeral, or for a monument to be put over his body, and was heard several times in his last hours to say, that he desired no other Epitaph than Vermis sum. So that as yet he hath no Monument, nor so much as any Stone over his grave, the floor being (now, or at least lately) covered only with sand, and unpaved. What remains more to be remembred of him (if not too much already) is his own confession on his death-bed made to Dr. Ralph Brideoak then Rector of Witney near Burford: who administring to him ghostly counsel, and desiring to know how he had kept and observed the fifth Commandment, remembring him that Disobedience, Rebellion, and Schism were the great sins against it, made this confession— “Yes, there is my trouble, my disobedience not against my natural parents only, but against the Pater patriae, our deceased Sovereign. I confess with Saul, I held their clothes whilst they murdered him, but herein I was not so criminal as Saul was, for God thou knowest, I never consented to his death, I ever prayed and endeavoured what I could against it, but I did too much, almighty-God forgive me, &c. ” Then the said Doctor urged to him, to confess, if he knew any of those Villains that plotted and contrived that horrid murther, which were not then detected; to which he answer’d, “I am a stranger to that business, my soul never entred into that secret; but what concerns my self I will confess freely. These things are especially laid to my charge, wherein indeed I am too guilty, as first that I went from the Parliament to the Army. 2. That I proposed the bloody question for trying the King. And 3. That I sate in Parl. after the Kings death. To the first, I may give this answer, that Cromwell and his Agents deceived a wiser man than my self, I mean that excellent King, and then might well deceive me also, and so they did. I knew the Presbyterians would never restore the King to his just Rights, these men (the Independents) swore they would. For the second no excuse can be made, but I have the Kings pardon, and I hope Almighty God will shew me his mercy also: yet even then, when I put the question, I hoped the very putting the question would have cleared him, because I believed four for one were against it, but they deceived me also. To the third I make this candid confession, that ’twas my own baseness and cowardize and unworthy fear to submit my self to the mercy of those men that murthered the King, that hurried me on against my own conscience to act with them. Yet then, I thought also, I might do some good and hinder some ill. Something I did for the Church and Universities, something for the King when I broke the oath ((*))((*)) ’Tis said that one Mrs. Catherine Johnson, a pretender to Prophecy, did some time before, tell Will. Lenthall that the Oath of Abjuration against the Royal Family should be endeavoured to pass in Parliament: which if he would deny, he should afterwards be forgiven for what he had done against the King. So that upon her warning, he, (upon the proposal of that Oath) absented himself from the House for about ten days, under pretence of the Gout. See more in a book intit. The mystery and method of his Majesties happy Restauration, &c. by Joh. Price D. D.—Lond. 1680. oct. p. 40. of abjuration. Something also for his return; but the ill I did, over-weighed the little good I would have done: God forgive me for this also, &c. ” He also confessed that he had no hand in, or gave any consent to, the murthering and ruining the Fathers of the Church, and also that he died a dutiful son of the Church of England, as it was established before the Rebellion broke out, &c. After which confession, which was done like a very hearty Penitent, he received the absolution of the Church with much content and satisfaction. He left behind him one only son named John, the grand Braggadocio and Lyer of the age he lived in, bred in C. C. Coll. in this University, made early motions, and ran with the times as his Father did, was a Recruiter of the Long Parliament, consented to the tryal of the King, was a Colonel while Oliver was Protector, from whom he received the honour of Knighthood on the 9 of March 1657, was one of the six Clerks in Chancery, and for a time Governour of Windsore Castle. In 1672 he was elected High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, and in the latter end of 1677 he received the honour of Knighthood from his Maj. K. Ch. 2. This person who hath two, or more, Speeches in print, spoken in the times of Usurpation, died at Besills-Lee near Abendon in Berks (the Mannour which his Father purchased of the Fettiplaces) on the ninth day of Nov. 1681, and was buried in the Church there, near to the body of his second wife named Mary Blewet, the widow of .... Stonehouse Baronet, by whom he had one only son named William, who took to wife Catherine Hamilton, of the noble Family of the Hamiltons in Scotland, particularly of those of Pasley, and by her had issue John and James Lental. He died at Burford on the 5 of Sept. 1686, aged 27 years or thereabouts, and was buried near to the grave of his Grandfather.