Henry Elsynge
Encyclopedia
Henry Elsynge was an English administrator, who acted as clerk of the House of Commons
, and wrote on parliamentary procedure.
. He was educated at Westminster School
under L. Osbeldiston, and entered Christ Church, Oxford
, as a commoner, 1621, proceeding B.A. 1625. After he spent seven years in foreign travel, Archbishop William Laud
procured him the appointment of clerk of the House of Commons. His work was significant during the Long Parliament
.
In 1648 he resigned his appointment to avoid taking part in the proceedings against Charles I
, and retired to Hounslow
in Middlesex
, where he died. He was buried in St. Margaret's, Westminster
.
and John Selden
among his friends. His works are:
Clerk of the House of Commons
The Clerk of the House of Commons is the chief executive of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and before 1707 of the House of Commons of England...
, and wrote on parliamentary procedure.
Life
Elsynge was the eldest son of Henry Elsynge, and was born at BatterseaBattersea
Battersea is an area of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is an inner-city district of South London, situated on the south side of the River Thames, 2.9 miles south-west of Charing Cross. Battersea spans from Fairfield in the west to Queenstown in the east...
. He was educated at Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
under L. Osbeldiston, and entered Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, as a commoner, 1621, proceeding B.A. 1625. After he spent seven years in foreign travel, Archbishop William Laud
William Laud
William Laud was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1633 to 1645. One of the High Church Caroline divines, he opposed radical forms of Puritanism...
procured him the appointment of clerk of the House of Commons. His work was significant during the Long Parliament
Long Parliament
The Long Parliament was made on 3 November 1640, following the Bishops' Wars. It received its name from the fact that through an Act of Parliament, it could only be dissolved with the agreement of the members, and those members did not agree to its dissolution until after the English Civil War and...
.
In 1648 he resigned his appointment to avoid taking part in the proceedings against Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
, and retired to Hounslow
Hounslow
Hounslow is the principal town in the London Borough of Hounslow. It is a suburban development situated 10.6 miles west south-west of Charing Cross. It forms a post town in the TW postcode area.-Etymology:...
in Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, where he died. He was buried in St. Margaret's, Westminster
St. Margaret's, Westminster
The Anglican church of St. Margaret, Westminster Abbey is situated in the grounds of Westminster Abbey on Parliament Square, and is the parish church of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom in London...
.
Works
Elsynge was a scholarly man who numbered Bulstrode WhitelockeBulstrode Whitelocke
Sir Bulstrode Whitelocke was an English lawyer, writer, parliamentarian and Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England.- Biography :...
and John Selden
John Selden
John Selden was an English jurist and a scholar of England's ancient laws and constitution and scholar of Jewish law...
among his friends. His works are:
- 'Of the Form and Manner of Holding a Parliament in England,' 1663 (apparently derived from a manuscript in eight chapters, of similar scope, written by his father, 1626; the third edition was published in 1675, and a new and enlarged edition, edited by Thomas TyrwhittThomas TyrwhittThomas Tyrwhitt was an English classical scholar and critic.-Life:He was born in London, where he also died. He was educated at Eton and Queen's College, Oxford . In 1756 he was appointed under-secretary at war, in 1762 clerk of the House of Commons...
, in 1768). - 'A Tract concerning Proceedings in Parliament.'
- 'A Declaration or Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom,' 1642. Reprinted in John RushworthJohn RushworthJohn Rushworth , English historian, was born at Acklington Park in the parish of Warkworth, Northumberland, England. He compiled a series of works called Historical Collections , concerning the period of history covering the English Civil Wars throughout the 17th century.-Background:John Rushworth...
's 'Historical Collection,' vol. iv., and in E. Husband's 'Remonstrances,' 1643, p. 195. - 'Method of Passing Bills in Parliament,' 1685. Reprinted in Harleian Miscellany.