Francis Bramston
Encyclopedia
Francis Bramston or Brampston (died 1683) was an English judge.
or Farnaby, in Goldsmiths' Alley, Cripplegate, and at Queens' College, Cambridge
, where Edward Martin
was then the President, graduating B.A. in 1637 and M.A. in 1640. He was admitted to the Middle Temple
as a student in 1634, but as his health was weakly he for a time entertained the idea of taking holy orders.
Shortly before the final rupture between the king and the parliament he was elected a fellow of Queens' College, and after being called to the bar (14 June 1642) left the country. The ensuing four years (1642-46) he spent in travel in France
and Italy
, falling in with John Evelyn
and his friend Thomas Henshaw at Rome
in the spring of 1645, and again at Padua
and Venice
in the autumn of 1645.
On his return to England he dismissed the idea of entering the church, and devoted himself to the study and practice of the law. His history, however, is a blank until the Restoration
, when he was made steward of some of the king's courts (probably manorial) in Essex
, and of the liberty of Havering in the same county.
In 1664 he represented Queens' College, Cambridge, in the litigation respecting the election of Simon Patrick
to the presidency, and in the following year was appointed one of the counsel to the university, with a fee of 40s. per annum. In 1668 he was elected one of the benchers of his inn, and appointed reader, his subject being the statute 3 Jac. c. 4, concerning popish recusants. The banquet which, according to custom, he gave on this occasion (3 August) is described by Evelyn, who was present, as "so very extravagant and great as the like hath not been seen at any time". He mentions the Duke of Ormonde, the lord privy seal (Robartes), the Earl of Bedford, Lord Belasyse, and Viscount Halifax as among the guests, besides 'a world more of earls and lords.'
In Trinity term of the following year he was admitted to the degree of serjeant-at-law
, presenting the king with a ring inscribed with the motto, Rex legis tutamen, and was appointed steward of the court of common pleas at Whitechapel, with a salary of 100l. per annum. In Trinity term 1678 he was created a baron of the exchequer, but early next year (29 April) was dismissed, without reason assigned, along with Sir William Wild of the king's bench, Sir Edward Thurland
of the exchequer, and Vere Bertie of the common pleas, Sir Thomas Raymond
being sworn in his place (5 May), though, according to his own account, he "had laboured, and not without great reason, to prevent it". It was supposed that either Sir William Temple or Lord-chancellor Finch
was at the bottom of the aifair. On 4 June a pension of £500 a year was granted him, of which the first three terminal instalments only were paid him. At his death, which occurred at his chambers in Serjeants' Inn 27 March 1683, it was three years and six months in arrear. He was buried 30 March in Roxwell
Church.
He died heavily in debt, and his brother John, who was his executor, made persistent efforts to get in the amount due in respect of his pension (some £1,750), and succeeded in 1686 in recovering £1,456 5s., the balance being, as he plaintively puts it, abated in costs.
Sir Francis was never married. In person he was short and rather stout.
Life
Bramston, the third son of Sir John Bramston the elder, was educated at the celebrated school of Thomas FarnabieThomas Farnaby
Thomas Farnaby was an English schoolmaster and scholar.-Early life:He was the son of a London carpenter...
or Farnaby, in Goldsmiths' Alley, Cripplegate, and at Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou , and refounded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville...
, where Edward Martin
Edward Martin (Queens')
Edward Martin, D.D. was an English clergyman, ejected President of Queens' College, Cambridge, and at the end of his life Dean of Ely.-Life:...
was then the President, graduating B.A. in 1637 and M.A. in 1640. He was admitted to the Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
as a student in 1634, but as his health was weakly he for a time entertained the idea of taking holy orders.
Shortly before the final rupture between the king and the parliament he was elected a fellow of Queens' College, and after being called to the bar (14 June 1642) left the country. The ensuing four years (1642-46) he spent in travel in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, falling in with John Evelyn
John Evelyn
John Evelyn was an English writer, gardener and diarist.Evelyn's diaries or Memoirs are largely contemporaneous with those of the other noted diarist of the time, Samuel Pepys, and cast considerable light on the art, culture and politics of the time John Evelyn (31 October 1620 – 27 February...
and his friend Thomas Henshaw at Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in the spring of 1645, and again at Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
and Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
in the autumn of 1645.
On his return to England he dismissed the idea of entering the church, and devoted himself to the study and practice of the law. His history, however, is a blank until the Restoration
Restoration (1660)
The term Restoration in reference to the year 1660 refers to the restoration of Charles II to his realms across the British Empire at that time.-England:...
, when he was made steward of some of the king's courts (probably manorial) in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, and of the liberty of Havering in the same county.
In 1664 he represented Queens' College, Cambridge, in the litigation respecting the election of Simon Patrick
Simon Patrick
Simon Patrick was an English theologian and bishop.-Life:He was born at Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, on 8 September 1626, and attended Boston Grammar School. He entered Queens College, Cambridge, in 1644, and after taking orders in 1651 became successively chaplain to Sir Walter St. John and vicar...
to the presidency, and in the following year was appointed one of the counsel to the university, with a fee of 40s. per annum. In 1668 he was elected one of the benchers of his inn, and appointed reader, his subject being the statute 3 Jac. c. 4, concerning popish recusants. The banquet which, according to custom, he gave on this occasion (3 August) is described by Evelyn, who was present, as "so very extravagant and great as the like hath not been seen at any time". He mentions the Duke of Ormonde, the lord privy seal (Robartes), the Earl of Bedford, Lord Belasyse, and Viscount Halifax as among the guests, besides 'a world more of earls and lords.'
In Trinity term of the following year he was admitted to the degree of serjeant-at-law
Serjeant-at-law
The Serjeants-at-Law was an order of barristers at the English bar. The position of Serjeant-at-Law , or Sergeant-Counter, was centuries old; there are writs dating to 1300 which identify them as descended from figures in France prior to the Norman Conquest...
, presenting the king with a ring inscribed with the motto, Rex legis tutamen, and was appointed steward of the court of common pleas at Whitechapel, with a salary of 100l. per annum. In Trinity term 1678 he was created a baron of the exchequer, but early next year (29 April) was dismissed, without reason assigned, along with Sir William Wild of the king's bench, Sir Edward Thurland
Edward Thurland
Edward Thurland was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1640 and 1673....
of the exchequer, and Vere Bertie of the common pleas, Sir Thomas Raymond
Thomas Raymond
Sir Thomas Raymond or Rayment was a British judge. Born to Robert Raymond, he was educated at a school in Bishop's Stortford before matriculating to Christ's College, Cambridge on 5 April 1643. On 6 February 1645 he joined Gray's Inn, being called to the Bar there on 11 February 1651...
being sworn in his place (5 May), though, according to his own account, he "had laboured, and not without great reason, to prevent it". It was supposed that either Sir William Temple or Lord-chancellor Finch
Heneage Finch, 1st Earl of Nottingham
Heneage Finch, 1st Earl of Nottingham, PC , Lord Chancellor of England, was descended from the old family of Finch, many of whose members had attained high legal eminence, and was the eldest son of Sir Heneage Finch, recorder of London, by his first wife Frances Bell, daughter of Sir Edmond Bell of...
was at the bottom of the aifair. On 4 June a pension of £500 a year was granted him, of which the first three terminal instalments only were paid him. At his death, which occurred at his chambers in Serjeants' Inn 27 March 1683, it was three years and six months in arrear. He was buried 30 March in Roxwell
Roxwell
Roxwell is a village and a parish in the Chelmsford District, in the English county of Essex.The parish church is St Michael & All Angels. There is a primary school and a public house...
Church.
He died heavily in debt, and his brother John, who was his executor, made persistent efforts to get in the amount due in respect of his pension (some £1,750), and succeeded in 1686 in recovering £1,456 5s., the balance being, as he plaintively puts it, abated in costs.
Sir Francis was never married. In person he was short and rather stout.