Lislebone Long
Encyclopedia
Sir Lislebone Long baptised Loveban, was born at Beckington
, Somerset
, the son of William Long of Stratton on the Fosse and Mary Lovibond. He graduated from Magdalen Hall, Oxford, 1630-31 with a B.A and was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn
, 1640
Descended from the Longs of Wiltshire
, in local affairs Long identified both before and during the civil wars with at least one of his Wiltshire relatives, Sir Walter Long, 1st Baronet of Whaddon who was an outspoken critic of the King. Like his cousin, he was a presbyterian and became an elder in parliament's presbyterian national church, with a later appointment to the parliamentary committee charged with settling the form of church government in England (1648). Following the end of royalist occupation, parliament's county committee in Somerset was revived in 1645, and Long was appointed as a member.
Long was known for his moderate stance in politics, which was also demonstrated in parliament, following his election to the Long Parliament
as a recruiter MP for Wells
(1645–53). He voiced his strong opposition to Pride's Purge
(6 December 1648), and on the day following the purge, he acted as a teller on a critical vote. After a few occasional appearances, he eventually absented himself from the House of Commons
in protest. He became a conformist
by taking his dissent and resuming his seat in the Rump Parliament
, although he played no part in the trial and execution of Charles I
. From that point on he played an active role in the work of committees, his moderating influence reflected in government policies.
Long was also a regular participant in parliamentary debates. In the first protectorate
parliament (1654–5), he served as MP for Wells; in the second protectorate parliament (1656–8), for Somerset
; and again for Wells in Richard Cromwell
's parliament (1659). He was described by one of his contemporaries as 'a very sober, discreet gentleman, and a good lawyer', making intelligent contributions during sessions of the Cromwellian parliaments on points of law, precedent, and procedure.
Highly respected within his local community, he was appointed JP for Somerset 1654–9, elected Recorder of London in 1655, knighted by Oliver Cromwell
in 1656, and that same year was appointed treasurer of Lincoln's Inn
, a Master of Requests, and a Commissioner of Treasons.
On 9 March 1659, the speaker of Richard Cromwell's parliament, Chaloner Chute, suddenly became indisposed as a result of being ‘tired out with the long debates and late sitting’ (Diary of Thomas Burton
, 4.92). This was after a long nine days debate, during which the House sat through one entire night up to 10 p.m. As a tribute to the high regard in which he was held, Sir Lislebone was duly elected ‘by general consent of the House’ (JHC, 7.612) to take the chair during the speaker's illness. Just one week later on 16 March, Burton notes in his diary that Long ‘being very sick, could not attend’. He died later the same day and was buried at Stratton on the Fosse, leaving an estate which included a number of ecclesiastical and royalist lands purchased after confiscation by parliament.
He had married on 18 February 1640 at London, Frances Mynne, daughter of John Mynne of Epsom. They had two sons and two daughters. His wife died in 1691.
Beckington
Beckington is a village and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, across the River Frome from Lullington about three miles north of Frome...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, the son of William Long of Stratton on the Fosse and Mary Lovibond. He graduated from Magdalen Hall, Oxford, 1630-31 with a B.A and was called to the bar 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...
, 1640
Descended from the Longs of Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, in local affairs Long identified both before and during the civil wars with at least one of his Wiltshire relatives, Sir Walter Long, 1st Baronet of Whaddon who was an outspoken critic of the King. Like his cousin, he was a presbyterian and became an elder in parliament's presbyterian national church, with a later appointment to the parliamentary committee charged with settling the form of church government in England (1648). Following the end of royalist occupation, parliament's county committee in Somerset was revived in 1645, and Long was appointed as a member.
Long was known for his moderate stance in politics, which was also demonstrated in parliament, following his election to the Long Parliament
Long Parliament
The Long Parliament was made on 3 November 1640, following the Bishops' Wars. It received its name from the fact that through an Act of Parliament, it could only be dissolved with the agreement of the members, and those members did not agree to its dissolution until after the English Civil War and...
as a recruiter MP for Wells
Wells (UK Parliament constituency)
Wells is a county constituency centred on the city of Wells in Somerset. It elects one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, by the first past the post voting system...
(1645–53). He voiced his strong opposition to Pride's Purge
Pride's Purge
Pride’s Purge is an event in December 1648, during the Second English Civil War, when troops under the command of Colonel Thomas Pride forcibly removed from the Long Parliament all those who were not supporters of the Grandees in the New Model Army and the Independents...
(6 December 1648), and on the day following the purge, he acted as a teller on a critical vote. After a few occasional appearances, he eventually absented himself from the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
in protest. He became a conformist
Conformist
In English history, Conformists were those whose religious practices conformed with the requirements of the Act of Uniformity and so were in concert with the Established Church, the Church of England, as opposed to those of Nonconformists whose practices were not acceptable to the Church of England....
by taking his dissent and resuming his seat in the Rump Parliament
Rump Parliament
The Rump Parliament is the name of the English Parliament after Colonel Pride purged the Long Parliament on 6 December 1648 of those members hostile to the Grandees' intention to try King Charles I for high treason....
, although he played no part in the trial and execution of Charles I
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...
. From that point on he played an active role in the work of committees, his moderating influence reflected in government policies.
Long was also a regular participant in parliamentary debates. In the first protectorate
Protectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
parliament (1654–5), he served as MP for Wells; in the second protectorate parliament (1656–8), for Somerset
Somerset (UK Parliament constituency)
Somerset was a parliamentary constituency in Somerset, which returned two Members of Parliament , known traditionally as knights of the shire, to the House of Commons of England until 1707, the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from...
; and again for Wells in Richard Cromwell
Richard Cromwell
At the same time, the officers of the New Model Army became increasingly wary about the government's commitment to the military cause. The fact that Richard Cromwell lacked military credentials grated with men who had fought on the battlefields of the English Civil War to secure their nation's...
's parliament (1659). He was described by one of his contemporaries as 'a very sober, discreet gentleman, and a good lawyer', making intelligent contributions during sessions of the Cromwellian parliaments on points of law, precedent, and procedure.
Highly respected within his local community, he was appointed JP for Somerset 1654–9, elected Recorder of London in 1655, knighted by Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
in 1656, and that same year was appointed treasurer of 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...
, a Master of Requests, and a Commissioner of Treasons.
On 9 March 1659, the speaker of Richard Cromwell's parliament, Chaloner Chute, suddenly became indisposed as a result of being ‘tired out with the long debates and late sitting’ (Diary of Thomas Burton
Thomas Burton (politician)
Thomas Burton , of Brampton Hall, Westmorland, was MP for Westmorland from 1656 to 1659, and a parliamentary diarist.-Life:He was a justice of the peace for Westmorland. He was returned to parliament as member for the county on 20 August 1656...
, 4.92). This was after a long nine days debate, during which the House sat through one entire night up to 10 p.m. As a tribute to the high regard in which he was held, Sir Lislebone was duly elected ‘by general consent of the House’ (JHC, 7.612) to take the chair during the speaker's illness. Just one week later on 16 March, Burton notes in his diary that Long ‘being very sick, could not attend’. He died later the same day and was buried at Stratton on the Fosse, leaving an estate which included a number of ecclesiastical and royalist lands purchased after confiscation by parliament.
He had married on 18 February 1640 at London, Frances Mynne, daughter of John Mynne of Epsom. They had two sons and two daughters. His wife died in 1691.
Further Reading
Inquisition Post Mortem: An Adventurous Jaunt Through a 500 Year History of the Courtiers, Clothiers and Parliamentarians of the Long Family of Wiltshire; Cheryl Nicol 2011Sources
- John Wroughton, Long, Lislebone [created Sir Lislebone Long under the protectorate] (bap. 1613, d. 1659), politician in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2007)
- Imperial London - Arthur H. Beavan 1901