Henry Spelman
Encyclopedia
Sir Henry Spelman was an English antiquary, noted for his detailed collections of medieval records, in particular of church councils.
, and the grandson of Sir John Spelman (1495-1544). Educated at Trinity College, Cambridge
in 1583, he later married Eleanor l'Estrange in 1590.
Spelman entered parliament as member for Castle Rising
in 1593 and 1597-98. Knighted in 1603, he was appointed High Sheriff of Norfolk
in 1604. In 1612, he settled in London
near his friend Sir Robert Bruce Cotton
. In 1617, he served on a commission to inquire into disputed Irish estates, and later took part into legal inquiries into the exactions levied on behalf of the Crown in the civil and ecclesiastical courts. Henry Spelman continued to rise in prestige served as a member of the Parliament of England
for Worcester
in 1625. In 1627, he became treasurer of the Guiana
Company, and he was also an energetic member of the council for New England
. His general services to the state were recognized in 1636 by a gift of money and two years later by the offer of the mastership of Sutton's Hospital, Charterhouse
.
He died in London in October 1641, and was buried in Westminster Abbey
. His later years had been spent in the house of his son-in-law, Sir Ralph Whitfield, and he was survived by son John Spelman
.
). His Reliquiae Spelmannianae was edited by Edmund Gibson
in 1698.
Life
He was born the eldest son of Henry Spelman (d. - 1581), of ConghamCongham
Congham is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is situated some 10 km west of the town of King's Lynn and 55 km west of the city of Norwich....
, and the grandson of Sir John Spelman (1495-1544). Educated at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
in 1583, he later married Eleanor l'Estrange in 1590.
Spelman entered parliament as member for Castle Rising
Castle Rising (UK Parliament constituency)
Castle Rising was a parliamentary borough in Norfolk, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1558 until 1832, when it was abolished by the Great Reform Act...
in 1593 and 1597-98. Knighted in 1603, he was appointed High Sheriff of Norfolk
High Sheriff of Norfolk
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Norfolk. The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown and is appointed annually by the Crown. He was originally the principal law enforcement officer in the county and presided at the Assizes and other important county meetings...
in 1604. In 1612, he settled in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
near his friend Sir Robert Bruce Cotton
Robert Bruce Cotton
Sir Robert Bruce Cotton, 1st Baronet was an English antiquarian and Member of Parliament, founder of the important Cotton library....
. In 1617, he served on a commission to inquire into disputed Irish estates, and later took part into legal inquiries into the exactions levied on behalf of the Crown in the civil and ecclesiastical courts. Henry Spelman continued to rise in prestige served as a member of the Parliament of England
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
for Worcester
Worcester (UK Parliament constituency)
Worcester is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Since 1885 it has elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election; from 1295 to 1885 it elected two MPs....
in 1625. In 1627, he became treasurer of the Guiana
British Guiana
British Guiana was the name of the British colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana.The area was originally settled by the Dutch at the start of the 17th century as the colonies of Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice...
Company, and he was also an energetic member of the council for New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. His general services to the state were recognized in 1636 by a gift of money and two years later by the offer of the mastership of Sutton's Hospital, Charterhouse
London Charterhouse
The London Charterhouse is a historic complex of buildings in Smithfield, London dating back to the 14th century. It occupies land to the north of Charterhouse Square. The Charterhouse began as a Carthusian priory, founded in 1371 and dissolved in 1537...
.
He died in London in October 1641, and was buried in Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
. His later years had been spent in the house of his son-in-law, Sir Ralph Whitfield, and he was survived by son John Spelman
John Spelman
Sir John Spelman was an English historian and politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1626. He is known for his biography of Alfred the Great.-Life:...
.
Works
His histories include Concilia Ecclesiastica Orbis Britannici and Glossarium Archaiologicum (completed by William DugdaleWilliam Dugdale
Sir William Dugdale was an English antiquary and herald. As a scholar he was influential in the development of medieval history as an academic subject.-Life:...
). His Reliquiae Spelmannianae was edited by Edmund Gibson
Edmund Gibson
Edmund Gibson was a British divine and jurist.-Early life and career:He was born in Bampton, Westmorland. In 1686 he was entered a scholar at Queen's College, Oxford...
in 1698.