Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford in an Armour, 1639, by Sir Anthony van Dyck.

Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford (April 13, 1593 – May 12, 1641) was an English statesman, a major figure in the period leading up to the English Civil War. His relation, another Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Cleveland, fought during the Civil War. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (510x624, 21 KB) Summary Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford in an Armour, 1639, by Sir Anthony van Dyck; National Trust; Petworth House, Sussex, England. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (510x624, 21 KB) Summary Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford in an Armour, 1639, by Sir Anthony van Dyck; National Trust; Petworth House, Sussex, England. ... Self Portrait With a Sunflower Sir Anthony (Antoon) van Dyck (*March 22, 1599 - December 9, 1641) was a Flemish painter — mainly of portraits — who became the leading court painter in England. ... April 13 is the 103rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (104th in leap years). ... Events May 18 - Playwright Thomas Kyds accusations of heresy lead to an arrest warrant for Christopher Marlowe. ... May 12 is the 132nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (133rd in leap years). ... Events The Long Parliament passes a series of legislation designed to contain Charles Is absolutist tendencies. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location (dark green) within the United Kingdom (light green), with the Republic of Ireland (blue) to its west Languages English Capital London Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population –mid-2004... The term English Civil War (or Wars) refers to the series of armed conflicts and political machinations which took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651. ... En Dieu Est Tout In God is all Thomas Wentworth was born in 1591, the son of Henry Baron Wentworth of Nettlestead. ...

He was born in London, the son of Sir William Wentworth, of Wentworth Woodhouse, near Rotherham, a member of an old Yorkshire family, and of Anne, daughter of Sir Robert Atkins of Stowell, Gloucestershire. He was educated at St John's College, Cambridge, became a law student at the Inner Temple in 1607, and in 1611 was knighted and married Margaret, daughter of Francis Clifford, 4th Earl of Cumberland. For other uses, see London (disambiguation). ... Wentworth Woodhouse from A Complete History of the County of York by Thomas Allen (1828–30) Wentworth Woodhouse is a country house in the village of Wentworth near Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. ... Map sources for Rotherham at grid reference SK4392 Rotherham is a town in South Yorkshire, England, built upon the River Don near the confluence of the Don and the Rother. ... Yorkshire is the largest traditional county of Great Britain, covering some 6,000 sq. ... Gloucestershire (pronounced ; GLOSS-ter-sher) is a county in South West England. ... Full name The College of Saint John the Evangelist of the University of Cambridge Motto Souvent me Souvient I Often Remember Named after The Hospital of Saint John the Evangelist, Cambridge, named after John the Evangelist Previous names Incorporates part of what was Merton Hall which no longer exists Established... The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple is one of the four Inns of Court around the Royal Courts of Justice in London, England, to which barristers belong and where they are called to the Bar. ...

Early Parliamentary career

Earl of Strafford

Wentworth entered English Parliament in 1614 as Yorkshire's representative in the "Addled Parliament". He was an opponent of the policies of James I of England, confronting the king's foremost advisor and favorite, George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham; but it was not till the parliament of 1621, in which he sat for the same constituency, that he took part in debate. His position was ambivalent. He did not sympathize with the zeal of the popular party for war with Spain, but King James's denial of the rights and privileges of parliament seems to have caused him to join in the vindication of the claims of the House of Commons, and he supported the protestation which dissolved the third parliament of James. Image File history File links ArmsEarlStrafford. ... A body now called the English Parliament first arose during the thirteenth century, referred to variously as colloquium and parliamentum. It shared most of the powers typical of representative institutions in medieval and early modern Europe, and was arranged from the fourteenth century in a bicameral manner, with a House... The Addled Parliament was the second Parliament of the reign of James I of England, which sat in 1614. ... James VI of Scotland/James I of England (Charles James Stuart) (June 19, 1566 – March 27, 1625) was King of England, King of Scotland and was the first to style himself King of Great Britain. ... George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham by Rubens George Villiers (August 28, 1592 – August 23, 1628) was the 1st Duke of Buckingham of the second creation (1623) of that title and a favourite of King James I of England and then of Charles I. He was born in Brooksby, Leicestershire... The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ...

In 1622 Wentworth's wife died, and in February 1625 he married Arabella Holles, daughter of Denzil Holles. He represented Pontefract in the parliament of 1624, but appears to have taken no active part. He expressed a wish to avoid foreign complications and "do first the business of the commonwealth." After the death of James I, Buckingham became first minister to Charles I. Denzil Holles, 1st Baron Holles (October 31, 1599 - February 17, 1680) was an English statesman and writer, best known as one of the five members of parliament whom King Charles I of England attempted to arrest in 1642. ... Pontefract Castle in its heyday Pontefract (from the Latin for Broken Bridge) is a town in the county of West Yorkshire, England, near the A1 (or Great North Road), the M62 motorway, and Castleford. ... Charles I (19 November 1600 – 30 January 1649) was King of England, Scotland, and Ireland, from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. ...

In the first parliament of Charles I, June 1625, Wentworth again represented Yorkshire, and showed his hostility to the proposed war with Spain by supporting a motion for an adjournment before the house proceeded to business. He opposed the demand for war subsidies made on Buckingham's behalf. After that Parliament was dissolved in November, he was made sheriff of Yorkshire, a position which excluded him from the parliament which met in 1626. However, he was not antagonistic to the king. In January 1626 he asked for the presidency of the Council of the North, and was favourably received by Buckingham. But after the dissolution of the parliament he was dismissed from the justiceship of the peace and the office of custos rotulorum of Yorkshire, which he had held since 1615, probably because he would not support the court in forcing the country to contribute money without a parliamentary grant. In 1627, he refused to contribute to the forced loan, and was imprisoned. Sheriff is both a political and a legal office held under English common law, Scots law or U.S. common law, or the person who holds such office. ... The Council of the North was an administrative body set up by Richard III of England in 1484 to improve government control over the northern counties. ... A Justice of the Peace (JP) is an inferior magistrate appointed by means of a commission of the peace (mandate) to keep the peace. ... Custos rotulorum, (keeper of the rolls) the keeper of the English county records, is by virtue of that office the highest civil officer in the county. ...

The Petition of Right and its aftermath

In the following year, Wentworth was one of the more vocal supporters of the Petition of Right, which curbed the power of the king. Once Charles I had (grudgingly) accepted the Petition, Wentworth felt it appropriate to support the crown, saying "The authority of a king is the keystone which closeth up the arch of order and government." He was consequently branded a turncoat. Following the assassination of Buckingham, in 1628, Wentworth was finally made Lord President of the Council of the North, the duties of which were to administer the supreme Law Court of northern England. On July 22, 1628, he was created Baron Wentworth. From this position, he acted as one of two principal members (the other being Archbishop William Laud) in a team of key advisors to the king during an eleven-year period of total monarchical rule without parliament (known as "Thorough"). Wikisource has original text related to this article: Petition of Right The Petition of Right is a document produced by the English Parliament in the run-up to the English Civil War. ... Charles I (19 November 1600 – 30 January 1649) was King of England, Scotland, and Ireland, from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. ... George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham by Rubens George Villiers (August 28, 1592 – August 23, 1628) was the 1st Duke of Buckingham of the second creation (1623) of that title and a favourite of King James I of England and then of Charles I. He was born in Brooksby, Leicestershire... July 22 is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 162 days remaining. ... Events March 1 - writs were issued in February 1628 by Charles I of England that every county in England (not just seaport towns) pay ship tax by this date. ... William Laud (October 7, 1573 – January 10, 1645) was Archbishop of Canterbury and a fervent supporter of Charles I of England whom he encouraged to believe in the Divine Right of Kings. ...

In the parliament of 1628, Wentworth joined the popular leaders in resistance to arbitrary taxation and imprisonment, but tried to obtain his goal without offending the Crown. He led the movement for a bill which would have secured the liberties of the subject as completely as the Petition of Right afterwards did, but in a manner less offensive to the king. The proposal failed because of the uncompromising demands of the parliamentary party and Charles's refusal to make concessions, and the leadership was snatched from Wentworth's hands by John Eliot and John Coke. Later in the session he quarrelled with Eliot, because he wanted to come to a compromise with the Lords, so as to leave room for the king to act unchecked in special emergencies. Sir John Eliot (April 11, 1592 - November 27, 1632), English statesman, son of Richard Eliot (1546 - June 22, 1609) and Bridget Carswell (c. ... Sir John Coke (March 5, 1563 - September 8, 1644), English politician, was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. ...

As yet Wentworth was not directly involved in the government of the country. In December, 1628, he became Viscount Wentworth and president of the Council of the North. In the speech delivered at York on taking office, he announced his intention, almost in the words of Francis Bacon, of doing his utmost to bind up the prerogative of the Crown and the liberties of the subject in indistinguishable union. "Whoever," he said, "ravels forth into questions the right of a king and of a people shall never be able to wrap them up again into the comeliness and order he found them." His tactics were the same as those he later practised in Ireland, leading to the accusation that he planned to centralize all power with the executive at the expense of the individual in defiance of constitutional liberties. The Council of the North was an administrative body set up by Richard III of England in 1484 to improve government control over the northern counties. ... York is a city in northern England, at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss. ... Sir Francis Bacon For other people named Francis Bacon, see Francis Bacon (disambiguation). ...

The parliamentary session of 1629 ended in a breach between the king and parliament which made the task of a moderator hopeless. Wentworth had to choose between helping a Puritan House of Commons to dominate the king and helping the king to dominate a Puritan House of Commons. He chose the latter course, throwing himself into the work of repression with characteristic energy, as if the establishment of the royal power was the one thing needful. Yet even when he was most resolute in crushing resistance he held that he was maintaining the old constitution, which his opponents had attempted to alter by claiming supremacy for parliament. The Puritans were originally members of a group of English Protestants seeking purity — further reforms or even separation from the established church — during the Protestant Reformation. ... British House of Commons Canadian House of Commons In some bicameral parliaments of a Westminster System, the House of Commons has historically been the name of the elected lower house. ...

Lord Deputy of Ireland

In November 1629 Wentworth became a privy counsellor. In October 1631 he lost his second wife, and in October 1632 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Godfrey Rhodes. In January 1632, he was made Lord Deputy of Ireland, largely because of his reputation for harshness. There he exercised the "Thorough" with a certain degree of brutality, propagating the English tradition of using Ireland as a practice ground for social and military experimentation. His methods are generally considered to have been autocratic, single-minded and extreme. However, his heavy-handed approach did yield some improvements, as well as contribute to the strength of royal administration in Ireland. Her Majestys Most Honourable Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British Sovereign. ...

He had to deal with a people who had not arrived at national cohesion, and amongst whom English and Scottish colonists had been introduced (see Plantations of Ireland), some of them, like the early Norman settlers, being Roman Catholics, whilst others preserved their Protestantism. "The lord deputy of Ireland," wrote Sir Thomas Roe to Elizabeth of Bohemia, "doeth great wonders and governs like a king, and hath taught that kingdom to show us an example of envy, by having parliaments and knowing wisely how to use them." Wentworth reformed the administration, getting rid of the inefficient English officials. He manipulated the parliaments to obtain the necessary grants, and secured their cooperation in various useful legislative enactments. He started a new victualling trade with Spain, promoted linen manufacture, and encouraged the development of the resources of the country in many directions. Plantations in 16th and 17th century Ireland involved the seizure of land owned by the native Irish and granting of it to colonists (planters) from Britain. ... The Normans (adapted from the name Northmen or Norsemen) were a mixture of the indigenous people of France and the Viking invaders under the leadership of Hrolf Ganger, who adopted the French name Rollo and swore allegiance to the king of France (Charles the Simple). ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Protestantism is one of three primary branches of Christianity. ... Sir Thomas Roe (or Row) (c. ... Elisabeth, Electress Palatine and (briefly) queen of Bohemia (August 19, 1596 – February 13, 1662), born Princess Elizabeth Stuart of Scotland, was born as the eldest daughter to King James VI of Scotland and his Queen consort Anne of Denmark. ... Torn linen cloth, recovered from the Dead Sea Linen is a material made from the fibers of the flax (and historically, cannabis) plant. ...

Customs duties rose from a little over £25,000 in 1633–1634 to £57,000 in 1637–1638. Wentworth raised an army, put an end to piracy, instilled life into the Church and rescued church property. His strong administration reduced the tyranny of the wealthy over the poor. Yet these good measures were all carried out by arbitrary methods which made them unpopular. Their aim was not the prosperity of the Irish but the benefit to the English exchequer, and Strafford suppressed the trade in cloth "lest it should be a means to prejudice that staple commodity of England." Individual cases of unfairness included those of Esmond, Lord Chancellor Loftus and Lord Mountnorris, the last of whom Strafford caused to be sentenced to death in order to obtain the resignation of his office, and then pardoned. The Flag of 18th Century pirate Calico Jack This article is about sea piracy; for other uses of Piracy or Pirate, see Pirate (disambiguation). ... The Exchequer was that part of the government responsible for the management and collection of the royal revenues of the King of England. ... Adam Loftus, 1st Viscount of Ely (c. ... Mountnorris is a small village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, about three miles from Markethill. ...

Strafford ignored Charles's promise that no colonists should be forced into Connaught, and in 1635 he raked up an obsolete title—the grant in the 14th century of Connaught to Lionel of Antwerp, whose heir Charles was—and insisted upon the grand juries finding verdicts for the king. One county only, that of Galway, resisted, and the confiscation of Galway was effected by the court of exchequer, while Strafford fined the sheriff £1,000 for summoning such a jury, and cited the jurymen to the castle chamber to answer for their offence. In Ulster the arbitrary confiscation of the property of the city companies aroused dangerous animosity against the government. Connaught redirects here. ... Events February 10 - The Académie française in Paris is expanded to become a national academy for the artistic elite. ... This 14th-century statue from south India depicts the gods Shiva (on the left) and Uma (on the right). ... Lionel of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence, (November 29, 1338 - October 7, 1368) was the third son of Edward III of England, and was so called because he was born at Antwerp, Belgium. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... The Exchequer of Pleas or Exchequer was one of the three common-law courts of Medieval and Early Modern England. ... Statistics Area: 24,481 Population (estimate) 1,931,981 Ulster (Irish: Cúige Uladh, IPA: ) forms one of the four traditional provinces of Ireland. ...

Wentworth was benevolent but thoroughly unsympathetic towards the Irish as a race. His only thought was to convert them into Englishmen as soon as possible, in their habits, in their laws and in their religion. "I see plainly," he once wrote, "that, so long as this kingdom continues popish, they are not a people for the Crown of England to be confident of." He became even more high-handed. As yet he had never been consulted on English affairs, and it was only in February 1637 that Charles asked his opinion on a proposed interference in the affairs of the Continent. In reply, he assured Charles that it would be unwise to undertake naval operations till he had secured absolute power at home. He wished that John Hampden and his followers "were well whipped into their right senses." The opinion of the judges had given the king the right to levy ship money, but Wentworth did not consider this enough. When the Scottish Puritans rebelled, he advocated the most decided measures of repression, in February 1639 sending the king £2,000 as his contribution to the expenses of the coming war, at the same time arguing against an invasion of Scotland before the English army was trained, and advising certain concessions in religion. The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... World map showing Europe Political map Europe is one of the seven continents of Earth which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiographic one, leading to various perspectives about Europes borders. ... John Hampden as depicted in the 1851 Illustrated London Reading Book John Hampden (circa 1595—1643) was an English politician, the eldest son of William Hampden, of Hampden House, Great Hampden in Buckinghamshire, a descendant of a very ancient family of that county, said to have been established there before... Ship money was a tax, the levy of which by Charles I of England without the consent of Parliament was one of the causes of the English Civil War. ... Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within Europe Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ...

Recall and impeachment

Wentworth was recalled to England in September 1639. He was expected to help sort out the problems that were growing at home: namely, bankruptcy and war with the Scottish Covenanters, and became the king's principal adviser. Unaware how much opposition had developed in England during his absence, he recommended the calling of a parliament to support a renewal of the war, hoping that by the offer of a loan from the privy councillors, he would save Charles from having to submit to the new parliament if it rebelled. In January 1640 he was created Earl of Strafford, and in March he went to Ireland to hold a parliament, where the Catholic vote secured a grant of subsidies to be used against the Presbyterian Scots. An Irish army was to be levied to assist in the coming war. When Strafford returned to England he tried to enlist the peers on the side of the king, but persuaded Charles to be content with a smaller grant than he had originally asked for. Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within Europe Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... The Covenanters are a radical Presbyterian movement that played an important part in the history of Scotland, and to a lesser extent in that of England and Ireland, during the 17th century. ... Presbyterianism is part of the Reformed churches family of denominations of Christian Protestantism based on the teachings of John Calvin which traces its institutional roots to the Scottish Reformation, especially as led by John Knox. ...

The Commons, however, insisted on peace with the Scots. Charles, on the advice of—or perhaps by the treachery of—Henry Vane the Younger, returned to his larger demand of twelve subsidies; and on May 9, at the privy council, Strafford, though reluctantly, voted for a dissolution. The same morning the Committee of Eight of the privy council met again. Vane and others were for a mere defence against invasion. Strafford's advice was the contrary. "Go on vigorously or let them alone... go on with a vigorous war as you first designed, loose and absolved from all rules of government, being reduced to extreme necessity, everything is to be done that power might admit... You have an army in Ireland you may employ here to reduce this kingdom...." He tried to force the citizens of London to lend money, and supported a project for debasing the coinage and seizing bullion in the Tower of London, the property of foreign merchants. He also advocated the purchase of a loan from Spain by the offer of a future alliance. Strafford was now appointed to command the English army, and was made a Knight of the Garter, but he fell ill at a crucial moment. In the great council of peers, which assembled on September 24 at York, the struggle was given up, and Charles announced that he had issued writs for another parliament. Sir Henry Vane (1613 - June 14, 1662), son of Henry Vane the Elder, served as a statesman and Member of Parliament in a career spanning England and Massachusetts. ... May 9 is the 129th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (130th in leap years). ... For other uses, see London (disambiguation). ... A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of goods and services. ... A precious metal is a rare metallic element of high, durable economic value. ... For the film with this title, see Tower of London (1939 film). ... A garter is one of the Orders most recognisable insignia. ... September 24 is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years). ... York is a city in northern England, at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss. ...

By November 1640, there was no other choice but to recall Parliament. The Long Parliament assembled on November 3, 1640, and Charles immediately summoned Strafford to London, promising that he "should not suffer in his person, honour or fortune." One of Parliament's first utterances after its eleven-year forced hiatus was to impeach Strafford for "high misdemeanours" regarding his conduct in Ireland. He arrived on November 9 and the next day asked the king to forestall his impeachment by accusing the leaders of the popular party of treasonable communications with the Scots. The plan having been betrayed, John Pym immediately took up the impeachment to the House of Lords. Strafford came in person to confront his accusers, but was ordered to withdraw and taken into custody. On November 25 his preliminary charge was brought up, whereupon he was sent to the Tower, and, on January 31, 1641, the accusations in detail were presented. These were that Strafford had tried to subvert the fundamental laws of the kingdom. Much stress was laid on Strafford's reported words: "You have an army in Ireland you may employ here to reduce this kingdom." The Long Parliament is the name of the English Parliament called by Charles I, in 1640, following the Bishops Wars. ... November 3 is the 307th day of the year (308th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 58 days remaining. ... Events December 1 - Portugal regains its independence from Spain and João IV of Portugal becomes king. ... November 9 is the 313th day of the year (314th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 52 days remaining. ... Depiction of the impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson, then President of the United States, in 1868. ... John Pym (1584 – December 8, 1643) was an English parliamentarian, leader of the Long Parliament and a prominent critic of James I and then Charles I. Pym was born in Brymore, Somerset, into minor nobility. ... This article is about the British House of Lords. ... November 25 is the 329th (in leap years the 330th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... January 31 is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events The Long Parliament passes a series of legislation designed to contain Charles Is absolutist tendencies. ...

The failure of impeachment and the Bill of Attainder

However tyrannical Strafford's earlier conduct may have been, his offence was outside the definition of high treason; the copy of rough notes of Strafford's speech in the committee of the council, its authenticity not supported by councillors who had been present on the occasion, was not evidence which would convict in a court of law. His words had to be arbitrarily interpreted as referring to the subjection of England and not of Scotland and were also spoken on a privileged occasion. Strafford took full advantage of the weak points in the attack, and the lords, his judges, were influenced in his favour. But behind the legal aspect of the case lay the great constitutional question of the responsibility to the nation of the leader of its administration. The impeachment failed on April 10. Under English, and later British law, high treason is the crime of disloyalty to the Sovereign. ... April 10 is the 100th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (101st in leap years). ...

But by this point, Strafford had become something of a symbol for absolute monarchy, and Parliament felt the need to kill this symbol off. Consequently, the House of Commons produced a bill of attainder which essentially meant that Strafford could be executed regardless of crime, simply because it was the will of Parliament that he should die. On April 13 the Commons passed the bill by a vote of 204 to 59. But the bill could still be blocked in the House of Lords of which Strafford was a member. There was considerable public feeling against Strafford, and the threat of mob violence was sufficient to persuade the Lords to give way. A scheme to win over the leaders of the Parliament, and a scheme to seize the Tower and free Strafford by force, were both considered by the king; and the revelation of the army plot on May 5 caused the Lords to pass the attainder. Nothing now remained but the king's signature. This article or section is missing references or citation of sources. ... British House of Commons Canadian House of Commons In some bicameral parliaments of a Westminster System, the House of Commons has historically been the name of the elected lower house. ... A bill of attainder (also known as an act or writ of attainder) was an act of legislature declaring a person or group of persons guilty of some crime, and punishing them, without benefit of a trial. ... April 13 is the 103rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (104th in leap years). ... This article is about the British House of Lords. ... May 5 is the 125th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (126th in leap years). ...

Strafford had served Charles with what the king felt was a massive degree of loyalty, and Charles had a serious problem with signing Strafford's death warrant as a matter of conscience. However, to refuse the will of the Parliament on this matter could seriously threaten the monarchy, and Charles was keen to stay in power. Charles had, after the passing of the attainder by the Commons, for the second time assured Strafford "upon the word of a king, you shall not suffer in life, honour or fortune." Strafford now wrote releasing the king from his engagements and declaring his willingness to die in order to reconcile Charles to his subjects. "I do most humbly beseech you, for the preventing of such massacres as may happen by your refusal, to pass the bill; by this means to remove... the unfortunate thing forth of the way towards that blessed agreement, which God, I trust, shall for ever establish between you and your subjects." Charles gave his assent on May 10. Strafford met his fate two days later on Tower Hill, receiving the blessing of Archbishop Laud, who was then also imprisoned in the Tower, on his way to execution. May 10 is the 130th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (131st in leap years). ... Tower Hill is an elevated spot outside the Tower of London and just outside the limits of the City of London in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. ...

The Earl of Strafford was executed before a crowd of about 200,000, on Tower Hill, Strafford, on May 12, 1641. Thus passed into history "the great person," as Clarendon well calls him, without doubt one of the most striking figures in the annals of England. Following news of Strafford's execution, Ireland rose in rebellion. This led to more bickering between king and parliament, this time over the raising of an army. The ultimate consequence of all of this was the English Civil War. May 12 is the 132nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (133rd in leap years). ... Events The Long Parliament passes a series of legislation designed to contain Charles Is absolutist tendencies. ... Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon (February 18, 1609–December 9, 1674) was an English historian and statesman. ... The term English Civil War (or Wars) refers to the series of armed conflicts and political machinations which took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651. ...

Death and reputation

When Charles I was executed eight years later, amongst his last words were that he suggested that God had permitted his execution as punishment for his permitting Strafford's execution.

Strafford had been given the chance to carry out his ideals, and the final failure of his Irish administration, and especially its inability to endure in spite of its undoubted successes, was an object lesson in one-man government for all time. If this was the case in Ireland, where political ideas were still rude and elementary, still less could success be expected from the attempt to introduce the centralization and absolute power of the executive into England, where principles of government had been highly developed both in theory and practice, and a contrary tendency had long been established towards the increase of the rights of the individual and the power of parliament.

In the course of his career he made many enemies. No death was ever received with more public rejoicing. Yet Strafford was capable of inspiring strong friendships in private life. Sir Thomas Roe speaks of him as "Severe abroad and in business, and sweet in private conversation; retired in his friendships but very firm; a terrible judge and a strong enemy." His appearance is described by Sir Philip Warwick: "In his person he was of a tall stature, but stooped much in the neck. His countenance was cloudy whilst he moved or sat thinking, but when he spake, either seriously or facetiously, he had a lightsome and a very pleasant air; and indeed whatever he then did he performed very gracefully." He himself jested on his own "bent and ill-favoured brow," Lord Exeter replying that had he been "cursed with a meek brow and an arch of white hair upon it, he would never have governed Ireland nor Yorkshire." Sir Philip Warwick (December 24, 1609 - January 15, 1683), English writer and politician, born in Westminster, was the son of Thomas Warwick, or Warrick, a musician. ...

In 1662 Parliament reversed the attainder to allow his son William Wentworth to inherit his title. William Wentworth, 2nd Earl of Strafford (1626–1695) was a member of the United Kingdoms House of Lords. ...

Links

Strafford Club Thomas Wentworh, 1st Eart of Strafford (1593-1641) The Strafford Club was founded on an informal basis by students at the University of St Andrews, the Strafford Club aims to enhance awareness of the role and merits of world-wide Monarchy. ...

Bibliography

• Thomas Wentworth: Earl of Strafford by C.aV. Wedgwood is a modern biography ISBN 1842120816
• The Political World of Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford edited by J F Merrit is a collection of essays ISBN 0521521998

External links

• The Act for the attainder of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
• Wentworth Graduate College of the University of York, named in honor of Thomas Wentworth