Henry Green (politician)
Encyclopedia
Sir Henry Green was a courtier and councillor of Richard II.
He was born in Greene's Norton, Northamptonshire to Sir Henry Green
, a lawyer and Chief Justice. He inherited Drayton House
in Northamptonshire on his father's death in 1370.
He became a JP in 1380 and MP for Huntingdonshire
in 1390, for Northamptonshire
in 1394 and 1397 and finally in the autumn of 1397 MP for Wiltshire
. He also served in France with John of Gaunt.
He became a close confidante of King Richard II. Along with Sir John Bussy
and Sir William Bagot he was appointed one of the eccentric Richard's 'continual councillors' who gained an unsavoury reputation. At one point they advised the king to confiscate the lands of the exiled Henry Bolinbroke, Earl of Hereford.
When Bolinbroke returned from exile in 1399 to reclaim his inheritance, the three councillors decided flight was the best option. Bussy and Green sought sanctuary in Bristol Castle but were delivered up to Bolinbroke on 23 July 1399, who had them beheaded the following day.
He had married Maud (or Matilda) Mauduit, the daughter of Thomas de Mauduit. He had several children and was succeeded by Ralph.
All three continual councillors (referred to as caterpillars) feature in Shakespeare's historical play "King Richard II
". Green also appears in the anonymous Elizabethan play Thomas of Woodstock.
He was born in Greene's Norton, Northamptonshire to Sir Henry Green
Henry Green (justice)
Sir Henry Green was an English lawyer, and Chief Justice of the King's Bench from May 24, 1361 to October 29, 1365. He probably came from Northamptonshire. Early in his career he served both Queen Isabella and Edward the Black Prince. He was made justice of the Court of Common Pleas in 1354, and...
, a lawyer and Chief Justice. He inherited Drayton House
Drayton House
-History: Aubrey de Vere I give distinguished service at the Battle of Hastings, and was awarded land near Northampton to build a manor house. In the early thirteenth century, Sir Walter de Vere dropped the “de Vere” family name, and assume the surname “Drayton”....
in Northamptonshire on his father's death in 1370.
He became a JP in 1380 and MP for Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Huntingdonshire was a Parliamentary constituency covering the county of Huntingdonshire in England. It was represented in the House of Commons of England until 1707, then in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and then in the House of Commons the Parliament of the United...
in 1390, for Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire (UK Parliament constituency)
The county constituency of Northamptonshire, in the East Midlands of England was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832 and was represented in...
in 1394 and 1397 and finally in the autumn of 1397 MP for Wiltshire
Wiltshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Wiltshire was a constituency of the House of Commons of England from 1290 to 1707, of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832. It was represented by two Members of Parliament , elected by the bloc vote...
. He also served in France with John of Gaunt.
He became a close confidante of King Richard II. Along with Sir John Bussy
John Bussy
Sir John Bussy of Hougham in Lincolnshire was a Member of Parliament representing Lincolnshire or Rutland eleven times from 1383 to 1398 as a Knight of the Shire and was also Speaker of the House of Commons at the three Parliaments between 1393 and 1398...
and Sir William Bagot he was appointed one of the eccentric Richard's 'continual councillors' who gained an unsavoury reputation. At one point they advised the king to confiscate the lands of the exiled Henry Bolinbroke, Earl of Hereford.
When Bolinbroke returned from exile in 1399 to reclaim his inheritance, the three councillors decided flight was the best option. Bussy and Green sought sanctuary in Bristol Castle but were delivered up to Bolinbroke on 23 July 1399, who had them beheaded the following day.
He had married Maud (or Matilda) Mauduit, the daughter of Thomas de Mauduit. He had several children and was succeeded by Ralph.
All three continual councillors (referred to as caterpillars) feature in Shakespeare's historical play "King Richard II
Richard II (play)
King Richard the Second is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to be written in approximately 1595. It is based on the life of King Richard II of England and is the first part of a tetralogy, referred to by some scholars as the Henriad, followed by three plays concerning Richard's...
". Green also appears in the anonymous Elizabethan play Thomas of Woodstock.