Peter de la Mare
Encyclopedia
Sir Peter de la Mare was an English
politician and Presiding Officer of the House of Commons during the Good Parliament
of 1376.
Before becoming speaker, he worked variously as a toll collector, High Sheriff of Herefordshire
in 1374, and as a steward to Edmund Mortimer, 3rd Earl of March. It was probably his connection to Mortimer that earned him his position in Parliament.
Peter de la Mare attended the Good Parliament
in 1376 as a knight of the shire for Herefordshire
. After being elected as Speaker, he served as a spokesman for the House of Commons
in the House of Lords
during the indictment of various figures close to Edward III
, including his mistress Alice Perrers
, who had gained an undue amount of influence over the king. However, the political influence of the Good Parliament was brief. In November 1376, Peter de la Mare was imprisoned in Nottingham Castle
by John of Gaunt. Despite pleas for his release, the Bad Parliament
of 1377 refused to pardon him. However, he did gain his freedom in June 1377 following the death of Edward III. Following his release de la Mare was pardoned and compensated by Richard II
. He was re-elected as Speaker during the Parliament of October 1377.
De la Mare served in several Parliaments during the 1380s. The last recorded mention of him was as a feoffee
to Richard Burley in 1387.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
politician and Presiding Officer of the House of Commons during the Good Parliament
Good Parliament
The Good Parliament is the name traditionally given to the English Parliament of 1376. Sitting in London from April 28 to July 10, it was the longest Parliament up until that time....
of 1376.
Before becoming speaker, he worked variously as a toll collector, High Sheriff of Herefordshire
High Sheriff of Herefordshire
The Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions are now...
in 1374, and as a steward to Edmund Mortimer, 3rd Earl of March. It was probably his connection to Mortimer that earned him his position in Parliament.
Peter de la Mare attended the Good Parliament
Good Parliament
The Good Parliament is the name traditionally given to the English Parliament of 1376. Sitting in London from April 28 to July 10, it was the longest Parliament up until that time....
in 1376 as a knight of the shire for Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
. After being elected as Speaker, he served as a spokesman for the House of Commons
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 the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
during the indictment of various figures close to Edward III
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
, including his mistress Alice Perrers
Alice Perrers
Alice Perrers was a royal mistress whose lover and patron was King Edward III of England. She acquired significant land holdings. She served as a lady-in-waiting to Edward's consort, Philippa of Hainault.-Life and Family:...
, who had gained an undue amount of influence over the king. However, the political influence of the Good Parliament was brief. In November 1376, Peter de la Mare was imprisoned in Nottingham Castle
Nottingham Castle
Nottingham Castle is a castle in Nottingham, England. It is located in a commanding position on a natural promontory known as "'Castle Rock'", with cliffs high to the south and west. In the Middle Ages it was a major royal fortress and occasional royal residence...
by John of Gaunt. Despite pleas for his release, the Bad Parliament
Bad Parliament
The Bad Parliament sat in England between 27 January and 2 March 1377. Influenced by Prince John of Gaunt, it undid the work done by the Good Parliament to reduce corruption in the Royal Council. It also introduced a poll tax which was a contributing factor to the Peasants' Revolt in 1381....
of 1377 refused to pardon him. However, he did gain his freedom in June 1377 following the death of Edward III. Following his release de la Mare was pardoned and compensated by Richard II
Richard II of England
Richard II was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III...
. He was re-elected as Speaker during the Parliament of October 1377.
De la Mare served in several Parliaments during the 1380s. The last recorded mention of him was as a feoffee
Feoffee
A Feoffee is a trustee who holds a fief , that is to say an estate in land, for the use of a beneficial owner. The term is more fully stated as a feoffee to uses of the beneficial owner. The use of such trustees developed towards the end of the era of feudalism in the middle ages and became...
to Richard Burley in 1387.