Richard Willis (spy)
Encyclopedia
Sir Richard Willis, 1st Baronet (sometimes spelt 'Willys') (13 January 1614 – December 1690) was a Royalist
officer during the English Civil War
, and a double agent working for the Parliamentarians
during the Interregnum.
in 1631, and was admitted to Gray's Inn
in the same year. He joined the Royalist cause as an officer in the Kings army, being eventually Colonel of a Regiment of Calvary and Colonel General of the counties of Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Rutland. He was also Governor of Newark for the King, by
whom he was knighted 1 October 1642, at Shrewsbury, and was created a Baronet of Fen Ditton
in Cambridgeshire
on 11 June 1646.
Sir Richard spent some time in Italy
, returning to England in 1652 to join the Royalist
underground organisation, the Sealed Knot
(his successor as Governor of Newark, John Belasyse, 1st Baron Belasyse
, was also one of the members).
However, it seems Sir Richard became a double agent
. Although twice imprisoned by the Commonwealth
, he established contact with Cromwell
’s secret service, led by John Thurloe
, in 1656 or 1657, possibly for money (in A Child's History of England, Ch.XXXIV, Charles Dickens
wrote that Willis “reported to Oliver everything that passed among them, and had two hundred a year for it”). Alternatively, Willis may have wanted to secure his safety in case the Royalist cause failed.
In 1659 Willis was denounced to the future King Charles II
by Thurloe’s secretary, Samuel Morland
, who accused him of plotting, with Thurloe and Cromwell
, to lure Charles and his brothers to return to England under false pretences (to meet followers in Sussex
) and then assassinate them. Morland is said to have learned of the plan while pretending to be asleep in Thurloe's office in Lincoln's Inn
.
After the Restoration
Willis was banned from court.
He was alive on 9 December 1690, at Fen Ditton. His will dated 16 to 20 May, and probated 10 December 1690.
, sons of Richard Willys, of Fen Ditton and Horningsey, Cambridgeshire, by Jane, daughter and heir of William Henmaesh, of Balls, in Ware, Hertfordshire. Both were created baronets of Fen Ditton
in Cambridgeshire
by Charles I
.
His first cousin, George Wyllys
, was governor of Connecticut
, New England
.
Sir Richard married in or before 1659, Alice, daughter and sole heir of Thomas Fox, M.D., of Warlies, in Waltham Holy Cross, Essex [bur. there 26 Nov. 1662], and of Shipton, Oxon, by Anne, daughter of Robert Honywood, of Pett, in Charing, Kent. Her will, dated 27 October 1684, prorated 28 March 1688.
The baronetcy passed to Sir Thomas-Fox Willys of Warlies (30 June 1661 – 1701) was said to be "bereft of his wits", and died unmarried and without children at the age of 59. With his death the Baronetcy
created for Sir Richard became extinct.
by Victor Hugo
, published in Paris in 1828.
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
officer during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, and a double agent working for the Parliamentarians
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
during the Interregnum.
Biography
Willis went up to Christ's College, CambridgeChrist's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
in 1631, and was admitted to 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...
in the same year. He joined the Royalist cause as an officer in the Kings army, being eventually Colonel of a Regiment of Calvary and Colonel General of the counties of Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Rutland. He was also Governor of Newark for the King, by
whom he was knighted 1 October 1642, at Shrewsbury, and was created a Baronet of Fen Ditton
Willys Baronets
There have been two baronetcies granted to the Willyses of Fen Ditton, both in the Baronetage of England. The Willys Baronetcy, of Fen Ditton in Cambridgeshire, was first created in the Baronetage of England on 15 December 1641 for Thomas Willys, son and heir of Richard Willys, of Fen Ditton and...
in Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
on 11 June 1646.
Sir Richard spent some time in 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...
, returning to England in 1652 to join the Royalist
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
underground organisation, the Sealed Knot
Sealed Knot
The Sealed Knot was a secret Royalist association which plotted for the Restoration of the Monarchy during the English Interregnum.Its original founder members were:* John Belasyse, 1st Baron Belasyse...
(his successor as Governor of Newark, John Belasyse, 1st Baron Belasyse
John Belasyse, 1st Baron Belasyse
John Belasyse, 1st Baron Belasyse PC was an English nobleman, soldier and Member of Parliament, notable for his role during and after the English Civil War.-Early life:...
, was also one of the members).
However, it seems Sir Richard became a double agent
Double agent
A double agent, commonly abbreviated referral of double secret agent, is a counterintelligence term used to designate an employee of a secret service or organization, whose primary aim is to spy on the target organization, but who in fact is a member of that same target organization oneself. They...
. Although twice imprisoned by the Commonwealth
Commonwealth of England
The Commonwealth of England was the republic which ruled first England, and then Ireland and Scotland from 1649 to 1660. Between 1653–1659 it was known as the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland...
, he established contact with 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....
’s secret service, led by John Thurloe
John Thurloe
John Thurloe was a secretary to the council of state in Protectorate England and spymaster for Oliver Cromwell.-Life:...
, in 1656 or 1657, possibly for money (in A Child's History of England, Ch.XXXIV, Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
wrote that Willis “reported to Oliver everything that passed among them, and had two hundred a year for it”). Alternatively, Willis may have wanted to secure his safety in case the Royalist cause failed.
In 1659 Willis was denounced to the future King Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
by Thurloe’s secretary, Samuel Morland
Samuel Morland
Sir Samuel Morland, 1st Baronet , or Moreland, was a notable English academic, diplomat, spy, inventor and mathematician of the 17th century, a polymath credited with early developments in relation to computing, hydraulics and steam power.-Education:The son of Thomas Morland, the rector of...
, who accused him of plotting, with Thurloe and 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....
, to lure Charles and his brothers to return to England under false pretences (to meet followers in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
) and then assassinate them. Morland is said to have learned of the plan while pretending to be asleep in Thurloe's office in 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...
.
After the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
Willis was banned from court.
He was alive on 9 December 1690, at Fen Ditton. His will dated 16 to 20 May, and probated 10 December 1690.
Family
He was the younger brother of Thomas WillysSir Thomas Willys, 1st Baronet
Sir Thomas Willys, 1st Baronet of Fen Ditton in Cambridgeshire, was a Member of Parliament for Cambridgeshire and Cambridge...
, sons of Richard Willys, of Fen Ditton and Horningsey, Cambridgeshire, by Jane, daughter and heir of William Henmaesh, of Balls, in Ware, Hertfordshire. Both were created baronets of Fen Ditton
Fen Ditton
Fen Ditton is a village on the northeast edge of Cambridge in Cambridgeshire, England. The parish covers an area of Fen Ditton lies on the east bank of the River Cam, on the road from Cambridge to Clayhithe, and close to junction 34 of the A14...
in Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
by 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...
.
His first cousin, George Wyllys
George Wyllys
George Wyllys or Wyllis served for a year as one of the early governors of the Connecticut Colony.Born at the manor of Fenny Compton in Warwickshire, England, to Richard and Hester Willis, part of an old, wealthy family. His first cousins Thomas and Richard, were baronets of Fen Ditton,...
, was governor of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, 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...
.
Sir Richard married in or before 1659, Alice, daughter and sole heir of Thomas Fox, M.D., of Warlies, in Waltham Holy Cross, Essex [bur. there 26 Nov. 1662], and of Shipton, Oxon, by Anne, daughter of Robert Honywood, of Pett, in Charing, Kent. Her will, dated 27 October 1684, prorated 28 March 1688.
The baronetcy passed to Sir Thomas-Fox Willys of Warlies (30 June 1661 – 1701) was said to be "bereft of his wits", and died unmarried and without children at the age of 59. With his death the Baronetcy
Willys Baronets
There have been two baronetcies granted to the Willyses of Fen Ditton, both in the Baronetage of England. The Willys Baronetcy, of Fen Ditton in Cambridgeshire, was first created in the Baronetage of England on 15 December 1641 for Thomas Willys, son and heir of Richard Willys, of Fen Ditton and...
created for Sir Richard became extinct.
In literature
Richard Willis appears as a character in Act II of the play CromwellCromwell (play)
Cromwell is a play by Victor Hugo written in 1827. It was a result of the creation of the literary circle around Hugo which identified itself as Romanticist, taking Shakespeare as their model dramatist rather than the Classicist models of Jean Racine and Pierre Corneille supported by the French...
by Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo
Victor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
, published in Paris in 1828.