Thomas Lovell
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Lovell was an English soldier and administrator, Speaker of the House of Commons and Secretary to the Treasury
.
in Norfolk
, by Anne, daughter of Robert Toppe, alderman
of Norwich
; his family was Lancastrian in politics. Thomas Lovell seems to have been entered at Lincoln's Inn
.
He adhered to Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, and was attainted in the first parliament of Richard III
. He returned with Henry, fought at the battle of Bosworth Field
, and his attainder was reversed in Henry VII's first parliament.
for life; on 27 October he became esquire of the king's body, with a pension, and he was advanced to be knight of the king's body before August 1487. He was also treasurer of the king's and queen's chambers.
In the parliament summoned for 7 November 1485 Lovell was chosen for Northamptonshire
, and on 8 November 1485 he was elected speaker. He headed the commons on 10 December 1485, when they requested the king to marry Elizabeth of York
, to whom he subsequently lent £500 on the security of her plate. On 3 July 1486 he was one of the commission to treat with the Scots. He probably continued to sit in parliament, though it is only certain that he was elected to that summoned for 16 January 1497. Sir John Mordaunt was chosen speaker in 1488.
In 1487 Lovell sided with King Henry against Lambert Simnel
, and he and his brothers fought at the battle of Stoke, where he was knighted (9 June). On 11 March 1489 he became constable of Nottingham Castle
.
The services rendered by Lovell to Henry VII included an active participation in the king's policy of extortion
s: numerous bonds which were made to Lovell, as well as to Richard Empson
and Edmund Dudley
, were cancelled early in the reign of Henry VIII. In November 1494 he was present at the tournaments celebrating the creation of Prince Henry
as Duke of York, and in 1500 he accompanied the king at his meeting with the Archduke Philip near Calais
. In 1502 he became treasurer of the household and president of the council. In 1503 he was made Knight of the Garter. About 1504 he appears to have been high steward of the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. He acted as an executor for Cecilia, Duchess of York (died 1494), Lady Margaret, Countess of Richmond, Henry VII, Sir Thomas Brandon, John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford
, and Sir Robert Sheffield
.
The rise of Thomas Wolsey's power seems to have affected his position. Ambassador Sebastiano Giustiniani wrote on 17 July 1516 that Lovell had withdrawn himself from public affairs. On Ascension day 1516 Margaret, queen-dowager of Scotland visited him at Elsing
, near Enfield
, in Middlesex
, a house he had inherited from his brother-in-law, Edmund de Ros, 11th Baron de Ros
, in 1508.
On 14 May 1523 he was reported to be very ill, and he died at Elsing on 25 May 1524. He was buried in a chantry chapel he had built at Holywell Priory
, Shoreditch
, a religious house of which he was regarded as a second founder. His funeral was very magnificent. His portrait was formerly in a stained-glass window in Malvern Priory.
in 1497.
Thomas Lovell married, first, Eleanor, daughter of Jeffrey Ratcliffe; and, secondly, Isabel, daughter of Edmund de Ros, 11th Baron de Ros
, of Hamlake, a widow, but left no issue.
in Norfolk. The greater part of his estates passed to his nephew Francis, whom he calls in his will his cousin. Francis was succeeded by his son, Sir Thomas Lovell (died 1567), and had another son, Gregory Lovell (1522–1597), who was cofferer to the household, and received a lease of Merton Abbey
, Surrey, from Elizabeth I in 1587.
He assisted Dame Agnes Mellers with the foundation of Nottingham High School
and liased on its establishment with King Henry VIII.
Secretary to the Treasury
In the United Kingdom, there are several Secretaries to the Treasury, who are junior Treasury ministers nominally acting as secretaries to HM Treasury. The origins of the office are unclear, although it probably originated during Lord Burghley's tenure as Lord Treasurer in the 16th century. The...
.
Early life
He was fifth son of Sir Ralph Lovell of Barton BendishBarton Bendish
Barton Bendish is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is east of Downham Market, west of Norwich and north-east of London. The village lies south of the town of Kings Lynn.The nearest railway station is at Downham Market for the Fen Line which runs...
in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, by Anne, daughter of Robert Toppe, alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
; his family was Lancastrian in politics. Thomas Lovell seems to have been entered at Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
.
He adhered to Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, and was attainted in the first parliament of Richard III
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
. He returned with Henry, fought at the battle of Bosworth Field
Battle of Bosworth Field
The Battle of Bosworth Field was the penultimate battle of the Wars of the Roses, the civil war between the House of Lancaster and the House of York that raged across England in the latter half of the 15th century. Fought on 22 August 1485, the battle was won by the Lancastrians...
, and his attainder was reversed in Henry VII's first parliament.
Under Henry VII
On 12 October 1485 he was created chancellor of the exchequerChancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
for life; on 27 October he became esquire of the king's body, with a pension, and he was advanced to be knight of the king's body before August 1487. He was also treasurer of the king's and queen's chambers.
In the parliament summoned for 7 November 1485 Lovell was chosen 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...
, and on 8 November 1485 he was elected speaker. He headed the commons on 10 December 1485, when they requested the king to marry Elizabeth of York
Elizabeth of York
Elizabeth of York was Queen consort of England as spouse of King Henry VII from 1486 until 1503, and mother of King Henry VIII of England....
, to whom he subsequently lent £500 on the security of her plate. On 3 July 1486 he was one of the commission to treat with the Scots. He probably continued to sit in parliament, though it is only certain that he was elected to that summoned for 16 January 1497. Sir John Mordaunt was chosen speaker in 1488.
In 1487 Lovell sided with King Henry against Lambert Simnel
Lambert Simnel
Lambert Simnel was a pretender to the throne of England. His claim to be the Earl of Warwick in 1487 threatened the newly established reign of King Henry VII .-Early life:...
, and he and his brothers fought at the battle of Stoke, where he was knighted (9 June). On 11 March 1489 he became constable of Nottingham Castle
Nottingham Castle
Nottingham Castle is a castle in Nottingham, England. It is located in a commanding position on a natural promontory known as "'Castle Rock'", with cliffs high to the south and west. In the Middle Ages it was a major royal fortress and occasional royal residence...
.
The services rendered by Lovell to Henry VII included an active participation in the king's policy of extortion
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
s: numerous bonds which were made to Lovell, as well as to Richard Empson
Richard Empson
Sir Richard Empson , minister of Henry VII, King of England, was a son of Peter Empson, an influential inhabitant of Towcester....
and Edmund Dudley
Edmund Dudley
Edmund Dudley was an English administrator and a financial agent of King Henry VII. He served as Speaker of the House of Commons and President of the King's Council. After the accession of Henry VIII, he was imprisoned in the Tower of London and executed the next year on a treason charge...
, were cancelled early in the reign of Henry VIII. In November 1494 he was present at the tournaments celebrating the creation of Prince Henry
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
as Duke of York, and in 1500 he accompanied the king at his meeting with the Archduke Philip near Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
. In 1502 he became treasurer of the household and president of the council. In 1503 he was made Knight of the Garter. About 1504 he appears to have been high steward of the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. He acted as an executor for Cecilia, Duchess of York (died 1494), Lady Margaret, Countess of Richmond, Henry VII, Sir Thomas Brandon, John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford
John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford
John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford , the second son of John de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford, and Elizabeth Howard, was one of the principal Lancastrian commanders during the English Wars of the Roses...
, and Sir Robert Sheffield
Robert Sheffield
Robert Sheffield was an English lawyer and politician, Speaker of the House of Commons between 1512-1513.-Life:He was son of Sir Robert Sheffield, by Genette, daughter and coheiress of Alexander Lownde of Butterwick, Lincolnshire. He was a commander at the battle of Stoke, and was knighted after...
.
Under Henry VIII
Henry VIII continued to employ Lovell. He was reappointed chancellor of the exchequer, was made Constable of the Tower of London in 1509, and surveyor of the court of wards, and steward and marshal of the household. On 3 September 1513 he was commissioned to levy men in the Midlands for service against the Scots, and on 12 May 1514 either he or his nephew Thomas, who was knighted in 1513, landed at Calais with a hundred men, and was shortly afterwards joined by three hundred more.The rise of Thomas Wolsey's power seems to have affected his position. Ambassador Sebastiano Giustiniani wrote on 17 July 1516 that Lovell had withdrawn himself from public affairs. On Ascension day 1516 Margaret, queen-dowager of Scotland visited him at Elsing
Elsing
Elsing is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is situated some 6 miles north-east of the town of East Dereham and 12 miles north-west of the city of Norwich....
, near Enfield
Enfield Town
Enfield Town is the historic town centre of Enfield, formerly in the county of Middlesex and now in the London Borough of Enfield. It is north north-east of Charing Cross...
, 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...
, a house he had inherited from his brother-in-law, Edmund de Ros, 11th Baron de Ros
Edmund de Ros, 11th Baron de Ros
Edmund de Ros, 11th Baron de Ros of Helmsley was a follower of the House of Lancaster during the Wars of the Roses. He regained his family title after the accession of King Henry VII of England....
, in 1508.
On 14 May 1523 he was reported to be very ill, and he died at Elsing on 25 May 1524. He was buried in a chantry chapel he had built at Holywell Priory
Holywell Priory
Haliwell or Holywell Priory in Shoreditch was a religious house near London, England. The Victoria County History for Middlesex describes it as the priory of St. John the Baptist at Haliwell, a house of Augustinian canonesses....
, Shoreditch
Shoreditch
Shoreditch is an area of London within the London Borough of Hackney in England. It is a built-up part of the inner city immediately to the north of the City of London, located east-northeast of Charing Cross.-Etymology:...
, a religious house of which he was regarded as a second founder. His funeral was very magnificent. His portrait was formerly in a stained-glass window in Malvern Priory.
Family
His eldest brother, Gregory, inherited Barton Bendish, was knighted at the battle of Stoke in 1487, and was, by Margaret, daughter of Sir William Brandon, standard-bearer to Henry at Bosworth Field, father of Sir Thomas Lovell of Barton Bendish and of Sir Francis Lovell (died 1550), who became adopted son and heir to his uncle. Another brother, Sir Robert Lovell (died 1520?), was made a knight-banneret at BlackheathBlackheath, London
Blackheath is a district of South London, England. It is named from the large open public grassland which separates it from Greenwich to the north and Lewisham to the west...
in 1497.
Thomas Lovell married, first, Eleanor, daughter of Jeffrey Ratcliffe; and, secondly, Isabel, daughter of Edmund de Ros, 11th Baron de Ros
Edmund de Ros, 11th Baron de Ros
Edmund de Ros, 11th Baron de Ros of Helmsley was a follower of the House of Lancaster during the Wars of the Roses. He regained his family title after the accession of King Henry VII of England....
, of Hamlake, a widow, but left no issue.
Legacy
By the numerous grants which he had from Henry VIII he died very rich. Lovell contributed towards the building of Caius College, Cambridge, and built a gateway for Lincoln's Inn. He also built a manor-house at HarlingHarling, Norfolk
Harling, Norfolk is a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.It covers an area of and had a population of 2,201 in 932 households as of the2001 censusFor the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of Breckland....
in Norfolk. The greater part of his estates passed to his nephew Francis, whom he calls in his will his cousin. Francis was succeeded by his son, Sir Thomas Lovell (died 1567), and had another son, Gregory Lovell (1522–1597), who was cofferer to the household, and received a lease of Merton Abbey
Merton Priory
Merton Priory was founded in 1114 by Gilbert Norman, Sheriff of Surrey under Henry I. It was located in Merton, Surrey, England at the point where the Roman Stane Street crossed the River Wandle....
, Surrey, from Elizabeth I in 1587.
He assisted Dame Agnes Mellers with the foundation of Nottingham High School
Nottingham High School
Nottingham High School is a British boys' independent school situated about a mile north of Nottingham city centre. It has around 900 pupils from ages 11 to 18 and there is the adjoining Nottingham High Junior School catering for younger boys and, from September 2008, the Lovell House...
and liased on its establishment with King Henry VIII.