John Spelman
Encyclopedia
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
.
, antiquary. He studied at Cambridge University and at Brasenose College, Oxford
. He entered Gray's Inn
on 16 February 1608 and later travelled in continental Europe In 1626 he was elected Member of Parliament
for Worcester
. He edited from manuscripts in his father's library. (1640), and wrote a Life of Alfred the Great which was translated into Latin and published in 1678. Whereas his father was a leading expositor of the idea of an 'ancient constitution', John Spelman was a theorist of the Royalist cause. He was knighted by Charles I of England
in 1641 and served the king actively at Oxford at the beginning of the First English Civil War
. The House of Commons ordered Sir John Spillman to be sent for as a delinquent on 10 December 1642.
Spelman died in Brasenose College of the camp disease about 24 July 1643.
House of Commons of England
The House of Commons of England was the lower house of the Parliament of England from its development in the 14th century to the union of England and Scotland in 1707, when it was replaced by the House of Commons of Great Britain...
in 1626. He is known for his biography of Alfred the Great
Alfred the Great
Alfred the Great was King of Wessex from 871 to 899.Alfred is noted for his defence of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of southern England against the Vikings, becoming the only English monarch still to be accorded the epithet "the Great". Alfred was the first King of the West Saxons to style himself...
.
Life
Spelman was the son of Henry SpelmanHenry Spelman
Sir Henry Spelman was an English antiquary, noted for his detailed collections of medieval records, in particular of church councils.-Life:...
, antiquary. He studied at Cambridge University and at Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
. He entered Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
on 16 February 1608 and later travelled in continental Europe In 1626 he was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
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....
. He edited from manuscripts in his father's library. (1640), and wrote a Life of Alfred the Great which was translated into Latin and published in 1678. Whereas his father was a leading expositor of the idea of an 'ancient constitution', John Spelman was a theorist of the Royalist cause. He was knighted by Charles I of England
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
in 1641 and served the king actively at Oxford at the beginning of the First English Civil War
First English Civil War
The First English Civil War began the series of three wars known as the English Civil War . "The English Civil War" was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations that took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651, and includes the Second English Civil War and...
. The House of Commons ordered Sir John Spillman to be sent for as a delinquent on 10 December 1642.
Spelman died in Brasenose College of the camp disease about 24 July 1643.
Family
Spelman married Anne Towneshend, daughter of Sir John Townshend, of Raynham, Norfolk, and had a son Roger. His brother Clement was Cursitor Baron from 1663 to 1679.Works
- 1642: Certain considerations upon the duties both of prince and people written by a gentleman of quality, a well-wisher both to the King and Parliament. Oxford: Printed by Leonard Lichfield, 1642 (Anonymous; attributed to Spelman) Excerpt
- 1642: A Protestants account of his orthodox holding in matters of religion, at the present indifference in the Church. Printed by Roger Daniel, printer to the Universitie of Cambridge. 1642. And are to be sold by John Milleson (This has been attributed both to John and Henry Spelman the elder; the latter's authorship is now thought more likely. Wing (ed 2) S4939; Ann Arbor, Mich.: UMI, 1999- (Early English books online))
- 1644: Case of our affaires in law, religion, and other circumstances examined and presented to the conscience. [Oxford]: Printed [by Henry Hall?], in the yeare, 1643 [i.e. 1644]
- 1678: Aelfredi Magni, Anglorum regis invictissimi vita tribus libris comprehensa. Oxonii: E Theatro Sheldoniano, Anno Dom. MDC.LXXVIII. Thomas HearneThomas HearneThomas Hearne or Hearn , English antiquary, was born at Littlefield Green in the parish of White Waltham, Berkshire.-Life:...
, responsible for the first edition in the original English, in 1709, identified the translator as Christopher WaseChristopher WaseChristopher Wase was an English scholar, author, translator, and educator, who was the Architypographus of Oxford University Press for several years.-Life:...
(cf. Madan).