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Biography of Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley 1540-1617

Paternal Family Tree: Egerton

1601 Essex Rebellion

1603 Coronation of James I

In 1540 Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley was born illegitimately to Richard Egerton (age 30) and Alice Sparkes of Bickerton at Dodleston, Cheshire [Map].

In 1559 Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley (age 19) graduated Bachelor of Arts at Brasenose College, Oxford University.

In 1576 Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley (age 36) and Elizabeth Ravenscroft (age 32) were married.

In 1577 [his son] Thomas Egerton was born to Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley (age 37) and Elizabeth Ravenscroft (age 33).

Before 1579 Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley (age 38) was appointed Queen's Counsel.

In 1579 [his daughter] Mary Egerton was born to Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley (age 39) and Elizabeth Ravenscroft (age 35).

In 1579 [his son] John Egerton 1st Earl Bridgewater was born to Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley (age 39) and Elizabeth Ravenscroft (age 35).

On 6th January 1579 [his father] Richard Egerton (age 69) died. He was buried at St Boniface's Church, Bunbury [Map].

All About History Books

The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

On 28th June 1581 Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley (age 41) was appointed Solicitor General.

In 1584 Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley (age 44) was elected MP Cheshire.

Before 1594 [his son] Thomas Egerton (age 16) and [his daughter-in-law] Isabella Venables (age 17) were married. They were third cousins.

In 1594 Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley (age 54) was knighted.

In 1596 Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley (age 56) and Elizabeth More were married.

On 20th October 1600 Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley (age 60) and Alice Spencer Countess Derby (age 51) were married.

Before 1601 [his son-in-law] Francis Leigh (age 21) and [his daughter] Mary Egerton (age 21) were married.

Essex Rebellion

On 8th February 1601 Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley (age 61) and three others were held hostage by Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex (age 35) at Essex House. Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley attempted to rouse London but his support never materialised. When he returned to Essex House he found the hostages gone. Essex House was besieged by the Queen's men under Charles Howard 1st Earl Nottingham (age 65). Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex and Henry Wriothesley 3rd Earl of Southampton (age 27) surrendered. Charles Danvers (age 33) and Christopher Blount (age 36) took part. Roger Manners 5th Earl of Rutland (age 24) was implicated and was imprisoned for several months. He was fined £30000; a staggering amount three times more than any other conspirator.

On 27th June 1602 [his son] John Egerton 1st Earl Bridgewater (age 23) and [his daughter-in-law] Frances Stanley Countess Bridgewater (age 19) were married. She the daughter of Ferdinando Stanley 5th Earl of Derby and Alice Spencer Countess Derby (age 53).

In 1603 Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley (age 63) was appointed Lord Chancellor.

Coronation of James I

On 21st July 1603 King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland (age 37) created a number of new Baronies ...

Thomas Egerton (age 63) was created 1st Baron Ellesmere. Alice Spencer Countess Derby (age 54) by marriage Baroness Ellesmere.

Robert Spencer (age 33) was created 1st Baron Spencer Wormleighton.

John Harrington (age 63) was created 1st Baron Harington of Exton. Anne Keilway Baroness Harington (age 49) by marriage Baroness Harington of Exton.

In 1607 Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley (age 67) was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire.

Letters of John Chamberlain Volume 2 243. 243. To Sir Dudley Carleton (age 43). [S. P. Dom., Jac. I, lxxxvii, 51.] London, June 8, 1616.

My very goode Lord: When I wrote last I left the earle of Somerset (age 29) pleading for his life, but that he saide for himself was so litle that he was found guilty by all his peeres: which did so litle appall him that when he was asked what he could say why sentence shold not be pronounced, he stoode still upon his innocence, and could hardly be brought to refer himself to the Kinges mercie: upon which termes he stands still, and having leave to write to the King, hath only required that his judgement of hanging shold be chaunged to heading, and that his daughter might have such of his lands as the King doth not resume and reserve in his owne handes. The Lady Knolles (age 33) and some other frends have had accesse to the Lady (age 26) divers times since her conviction, and caried her younge daughter to her twise or thrise; but I heare not of any that comes at him. He hath ben much urged and fayre offered to confesse the offence both before his arraignment and since, but he stands firme in denial: though by all circumstances and most pregnant, (yea almost infallible) probabilities he be more faulty and fowle then any of the companie, which makes the King marvayle that all the rest that have gon before having so franckly confessed the matter after theyre condemnation, he only shold continue so confident. Whether this or any other reason be the cause of stay of execution I know not, but they live yet and for ought I can learne so are like to do many a day. Sir Thomas Mounsons (age 51) arraignment which shold have ben yesterday, was then put of again till the Tewsday after the terme, which procrastination from time to time makes the world thincke we shall heare no more of this busines, the rather for that the Lord Cooke (age 64) of late is fallen (I know not how) into disfavor, so far foorth that the King hath ben very bitter to him, both in privat and publike, as upon Thursday last when all the Judges were called before the King at Whitehall, to geve a reason of theyre proceeding in the exchecquer chamber to argue a case of commendams contrarie to his commaundment by expresse message, and sending a letter subscribed by them all, not so respectively and reverently written as might become them, they all stoode upon the very words and termes of law and statutes and upon the strictnes of theyre oath: but the heaviest burthen lighted on him, wherin he behaved and caried himself so well and confidently, that the matter goes on, and they argue yt again this day, contrarie to the expectation and hope of all the bishops. But the worst is that the Lord Chauncellor (age 76), the atturny (age 55) and sollicitor (age 49) prosecute him implacablie, and have won so much ground upon him, that there is a commission graunted to the Lord Archbishop, the Lord Knollis (age 72), Sir Thomas Lake (age 48) and Sir Fulke Grivell to call him before them and examine him upon articles and points touching the premunire: and withall, the whole course of his life is like to be ript up and looked into which yf yt be severely followed many men feare yt may be his utter overthrow. But he holdes up his head, and geves no way, which makes his frends thincke he will passe over this storme and tempest well enough. Our goode frend (age 53) stands only firme to him in what he may, which many marvayle at, and sticke not to say he is corrupted, which I thincke is as far from the one as the other: but howsoever, I could wish he shold not presume so much on the strength of his shoulders, as to thincke he alone were able to beare up the ruines of a building that is falling: and to say truth in many such cases I observe he hath more courage then needs, not weighing his owne strength, nor that yt is soma d'altri homeri [the burden of other men], for I perceve he hath litle appoggio [support, baking] to the maine piller (age 23) that now stands upright.

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On 7th November 1616 Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley (age 76) was created 1st Viscount Brackley. Alice Spencer Countess Derby (age 67) by marriage Viscountess Brackley.

Letters of John Chamberlain Volume 2 252. [14th November 1616] On Saterday the Knights of the Bath were entertained by the Lord Mayor at Drapers Hall with a supper and a play, where some of them were so rude and unruly and caried themselves so insolently divers wayes but specially in putting citizens wives to the squeake, so far foorth that one of the sheriffes brake open a doore upon Sir Edward Sackvile (age 25), which gave such occasion of scandall, that they went away without the banket though yt were redy and prepared for them. Neither did they forbeare these disorders among themselves, for there were divers picques and quarrells at their severall meetings, but specially at the Miter in Fleetstreet, insomuch that younge Parker (age 16) sonne to the Lord Mountegle (age 41), and Will Howard the Lord Treasurers (age 55) youngest sonne went into the feild, but were there prevented and reconciled. There was a greater busines towards in that kind betwixt the earle of Dorset (age 27) and the Lord Clifford (age 25), upon notice wherof the King and counsaile have taken order that they forbeare one another, and try out theyre controversies by warres in Westminster Hall. The Lady Compton (age 46) (the Lord Villers (age 24) mother) appeares not here this terme, which is much noted, and thought to be sore against her will, but the reason is saide to be certain letters from her sonne with advise to forbeare, for that her entermedling in matters is not so well taken. The Lord Chauncellor (age 76) comes litle abrode since his new dignitie1, beeing overtaken with a cold, or as some interpret yt in suspence what wold become of the Lord Cooke.

Note 1. Thomas Egerton was created Viscount Brackley on the 7th November 1616.

Diary of Anne Clifford. 14th March 1617. The 14th I made an end of my Irish stitch cushion. This afternoon Basket came from London and told me that my Lord (age 27) and my Uncle were agreed and the writings sealed.

The King set forward this day on his journey to Scotland, the Queen and Prince going with him to Thibalds1.

Note 1. The 14th being Friday my Uncle Cumberland and my Coz. Clifford came to Dorset House where my Lord and they signed and sealed the writings and made a final conclusion of my business and did what they could to cut me off from my right, but I referred my cause to GOD.

Upon this Friday or Saturday died my Lord Chancellor Egerton (age 77), Lady Derby's (age 67) husband.

On 15th March 1617 Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley (age 77) died. His son [his son] John (age 38) succeeded 2nd Viscount Brackley, 2nd Baron Ellesmere. [his daughter-in-law] Frances Stanley Countess Bridgewater (age 34) by marriage Viscountess Brackley.

Autobiography Simon D'Ewes. 9th October 1621. Michaelmas Term beginning upon Tuesday, the 9th day of October, John Williams (age 39), Doctor of Divinity, Dean of Westminster and Bishop of Lincoln, took his place in the Chancery, as Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, Viscount Mandeville (age 58), Lord President, administering the oath to him. Much talk there was of this divine's sudden rising, being a Welchman by birth, and, but a few years before, a poor subsizar in St. John's College in Cambridge of little regard or learniug. After he had taken his oath, he made a long, learned, and ho&est speech in the Chancery Court; but little practised it, as the sequel too plainly verified. I heard it confidently reported, that the old Lord Chancellor, Sir Thomas Egerton, Lord Ellesmere, prophesied of him, being then his household chaplain, that he would prove another Wolsey, which was as strangely verified many years after by his fall, as now by his rising.

Autobiography Simon D'Ewes. 9th January 1622. Sir Edward Coke (age 69), who had been of the House of Commons in the late Parliament and since about the end of December last foregoing, imprisoned in the Tower [Map], was now granted liberty of walking in any part of it. He was a great common lawyer, had been Attorney General, afterwards Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, and lastly Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, out of which place he had been put divers years before upon his attempting to bring the old Lord Chancellor, Sir Thomas Egerton, Lord Ellesmere, within the compass of a premunire. He did notable good service in the House of Commons during the last Parliament, and thereby won much love and credit.

Royal Descendants of Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley 1540-1617

Brigadier-General Charles FitzClarence

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom

Diana Spencer Princess Wales

Ancestors of Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley 1540-1617

Great x 4 Grandfather: Urian "The Younger" Egerton

Great x 3 Grandfather: Philip Egerton

Great x 4 Grandmother: Amelia de Warburton

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Egerton

Great x 1 Grandfather: Philip Egerton

GrandFather: Ralph Egerton

Father: Richard Egerton

Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley

Mother: Alice Sparkes of Bickerton