Simonds d'Ewes
Encyclopedia
Sir Simonds d'Ewes, 1st Baronet (December 18, 1602, Milden
, Suffolk
, England
- April 18, 1650) was an antiquary and politician. He was bred for the bar, was a member of the Long Parliament
and left notes on its transactions. d'Ewes took the Puritan side in the Civil War
. His Journal of all the Parliaments of Elizabeth is of value; he left an Autobiography and Correspondence.
, who impressed D'Ewes much more), he was sent to the grammar school
at Bury St. Edmunds
. He then went to St John's College, Cambridge
, and studied under Richard Holdsworth
. At St John's he was exposed to and influenced by a strong college tradition of Puritanism
.
He was admitted to the Middle Temple
in 1611, and in 1623 was called to the Bar
. He did not pursue a legal career, preferring instead to follow up antiquarian interests, which took him to the records in the Tower of London
. He met Sir Robert Cotton, who introduced him to John Selden
, the outstanding lawyer-scholar of the time; but D'Ewes found him conceited.
His marriage, in 1626, to Anne Clopton, heiress to Sir William Clopton, of Luton's Hall (also known as Kentwell) near Long Melford in Suffolk, brought him a considerable addition to his wealth. He was knighted by Charles I
on 6 December.
of Suffolk
, and 1640, he was elected as member for Sudbury
, sitting in the Long Parliament
. Although he opposed of the King's arbitrary rule, his views were moderate; he was given a baronet
cy by the king in 1641, possibly as an attempt to buy allegiance, in July. Since his beloved younger brother was an officer in the King's army, this is plausible. But it cannot be confirmed because the King's desperate need for money had led to a resumption of the sale of honors such as baronetcies at this time.
On the outbreak of the First English Civil War
in 1642, d'Ewes joined the Parliamentarians
. He remained in Parliament until 1648, when he was expelled in Pride's purge
. After 1648, d'Ewes took no further part in politics, and devoted himself to literary studies. He died on 18 April 1650, having married again, to Elizabeth Willoughby, daughter of Sir Henry Willoughby, Bt
.
, and particularly for his transcriptions of important historical documents, originals of which do not survive today, and the Journals of all the Parliaments during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. Although d'Ewes was ambitious in this field, he lacked the ability to generalise or construct effectively, and died without publishing any major work, except The Primitive Practice for Preserving Truth (1645) and a few speeches. The Journals was published posthumously in 1682 by his nephew, the lawyer and antiquary Paul Bowes
.
; glimpses of his own, possibly self-loving, character are also present.
Sir Simonds d'Ewes, 1st Baronet (December 18, 1602, Milden
, Suffolk
, England
- April 18, 1650) was an antiquary and politician. He was bred for the bar, was a member of the Long Parliament
and left notes on its transactions. d'Ewes took the Puritan side in the Civil War
. His Journal of all the Parliaments of Elizabeth is of value; he left an Autobiography and Correspondence.
, who impressed D'Ewes much more), he was sent to the grammar school
at Bury St. Edmunds
. He then went to St John's College, Cambridge
, and studied under Richard Holdsworth
. At St John's he was exposed to and influenced by a strong college tradition of Puritanism
.
He was admitted to the Middle Temple
in 1611, and in 1623 was called to the Bar
. He did not pursue a legal career, preferring instead to follow up antiquarian interests, which took him to the records in the Tower of London
. He met Sir Robert Cotton, who introduced him to John Selden
, the outstanding lawyer-scholar of the time; but D'Ewes found him conceited.
His marriage, in 1626, to Anne Clopton, heiress to Sir William Clopton, of Luton's Hall (also known as Kentwell) near Long Melford in Suffolk, brought him a considerable addition to his wealth. He was knighted by Charles I
on 6 December.
of Suffolk
, and 1640, he was elected as member for Sudbury
, sitting in the Long Parliament
. Although he opposed of the King's arbitrary rule, his views were moderate; he was given a baronet
cy by the king in 1641, possibly as an attempt to buy allegiance, in July. Since his beloved younger brother was an officer in the King's army, this is plausible. But it cannot be confirmed because the King's desperate need for money had led to a resumption of the sale of honors such as baronetcies at this time.
On the outbreak of the First English Civil War
in 1642, d'Ewes joined the Parliamentarians
. He remained in Parliament until 1648, when he was expelled in Pride's purge
. After 1648, d'Ewes took no further part in politics, and devoted himself to literary studies. He died on 18 April 1650, having married again, to Elizabeth Willoughby, daughter of Sir Henry Willoughby, Bt
.
, and particularly for his transcriptions of important historical documents, originals of which do not survive today, and the Journals of all the Parliaments during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. Although d'Ewes was ambitious in this field, he lacked the ability to generalise or construct effectively, and died without publishing any major work, except The Primitive Practice for Preserving Truth (1645) and a few speeches. The Journals was published posthumously in 1682 by his nephew, the lawyer and antiquary Paul Bowes
.
; glimpses of his own, possibly self-loving, character are also present.
Sir Simonds d'Ewes, 1st Baronet (December 18, 1602, Milden
, Suffolk
, England
- April 18, 1650) was an antiquary and politician. He was bred for the bar, was a member of the Long Parliament
and left notes on its transactions. d'Ewes took the Puritan side in the Civil War
. His Journal of all the Parliaments of Elizabeth is of value; he left an Autobiography and Correspondence.
, who impressed D'Ewes much more), he was sent to the grammar school
at Bury St. Edmunds
. He then went to St John's College, Cambridge
, and studied under Richard Holdsworth
. At St John's he was exposed to and influenced by a strong college tradition of Puritanism
.
He was admitted to the Middle Temple
in 1611, and in 1623 was called to the Bar
. He did not pursue a legal career, preferring instead to follow up antiquarian interests, which took him to the records in the Tower of London
. He met Sir Robert Cotton, who introduced him to John Selden
, the outstanding lawyer-scholar of the time; but D'Ewes found him conceited.
His marriage, in 1626, to Anne Clopton, heiress to Sir William Clopton, of Luton's Hall (also known as Kentwell) near Long Melford in Suffolk, brought him a considerable addition to his wealth. He was knighted by Charles I
on 6 December.
of Suffolk
, and 1640, he was elected as member for Sudbury
, sitting in the Long Parliament
. Although he opposed of the King's arbitrary rule, his views were moderate; he was given a baronet
cy by the king in 1641, possibly as an attempt to buy allegiance, in July. Since his beloved younger brother was an officer in the King's army, this is plausible. But it cannot be confirmed because the King's desperate need for money had led to a resumption of the sale of honors such as baronetcies at this time.
On the outbreak of the First English Civil War
in 1642, d'Ewes joined the Parliamentarians
. He remained in Parliament until 1648, when he was expelled in Pride's purge
. After 1648, d'Ewes took no further part in politics, and devoted himself to literary studies. He died on 18 April 1650, having married again, to Elizabeth Willoughby, daughter of Sir Henry Willoughby, Bt
.
, and particularly for his transcriptions of important historical documents, originals of which do not survive today, and the Journals of all the Parliaments during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. Although d'Ewes was ambitious in this field, he lacked the ability to generalise or construct effectively, and died without publishing any major work, except The Primitive Practice for Preserving Truth (1645) and a few speeches. The Journals was published posthumously in 1682 by his nephew, the lawyer and antiquary Paul Bowes
.
; glimpses of his own, possibly self-loving, character are also present.
Milden, Suffolk
Milden is a small village and civil parish in Suffolk, England. Located in the Babergh district, around four and half miles from Sudbury.The parish contains the Milden Thicks SSSI and the remains of Milden Castle.-Location grid:-External links:...
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, England
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...
- April 18, 1650) was an antiquary and politician. He was bred for the bar, was a member of 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...
and left notes on its transactions. d'Ewes took the Puritan side in the Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. His Journal of all the Parliaments of Elizabeth is of value; he left an Autobiography and Correspondence.
Early life
Simonds d'Ewes was born the eldest son of Paul d'Ewes, of Milden, Suffolk, and Cecelia, the heiress of Sir Richard Simonds. He inherited a fortune from his maternal grandfather while still young; his other grandfather was the printer Gerard D'Ewes. After some early private teaching, including time at the school of Henry Reynolds (father of Bathsua MakinBathsua Makin
Bathsua Reginald Makin was a proto-feminist, middle-class Englishwoman who contributed to the emerging criticism of woman’s position in domestic and public spheres in 17th-century England. Herself a highly educated woman, Makin was referred to as “England’s most learned lady,” skilled in Greek,...
, who impressed D'Ewes much more), he was sent to the grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
at Bury St. Edmunds
Bury St. Edmunds
Bury St Edmunds is a market town in the county of Suffolk, England, and formerly the county town of West Suffolk. It is the main town in the borough of St Edmundsbury and known for the ruined abbey near the town centre...
. He then went to St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
, and studied under Richard Holdsworth
Richard Holdsworth
Richard Holdsworth was an English academic theologian, and Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge from 1637 to 1643...
. At St John's he was exposed to and influenced by a strong college tradition of Puritanism
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
.
He was admitted to the Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
in 1611, and in 1623 was called to the Bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
. He did not pursue a legal career, preferring instead to follow up antiquarian interests, which took him to the records in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
. He met Sir Robert Cotton, who introduced him to John Selden
John Selden
John Selden was an English jurist and a scholar of England's ancient laws and constitution and scholar of Jewish law...
, the outstanding lawyer-scholar of the time; but D'Ewes found him conceited.
His marriage, in 1626, to Anne Clopton, heiress to Sir William Clopton, of Luton's Hall (also known as Kentwell) near Long Melford in Suffolk, brought him a considerable addition to his wealth. He was knighted 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...
on 6 December.
Political career
In 1639, d'Ewes was High SheriffHigh Sheriff
A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
of Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, and 1640, he was elected as member for Sudbury
Sudbury, Suffolk
Sudbury is a small, ancient market town in the county of Suffolk, England, on the River Stour, from Colchester and from London.-Early history:...
, sitting in 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...
. Although he opposed of the King's arbitrary rule, his views were moderate; he was given a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
cy by the king in 1641, possibly as an attempt to buy allegiance, in July. Since his beloved younger brother was an officer in the King's army, this is plausible. But it cannot be confirmed because the King's desperate need for money had led to a resumption of the sale of honors such as baronetcies at this time.
On the outbreak 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...
in 1642, d'Ewes joined 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...
. He remained in Parliament until 1648, when he was expelled in 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...
. After 1648, d'Ewes took no further part in politics, and devoted himself to literary studies. He died on 18 April 1650, having married again, to Elizabeth Willoughby, daughter of Sir Henry Willoughby, Bt
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
.
Antiquarian
Simonds d'Ewes is perhaps best known for his work as an antiquarianAntiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
, and particularly for his transcriptions of important historical documents, originals of which do not survive today, and the Journals of all the Parliaments during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. Although d'Ewes was ambitious in this field, he lacked the ability to generalise or construct effectively, and died without publishing any major work, except The Primitive Practice for Preserving Truth (1645) and a few speeches. The Journals was published posthumously in 1682 by his nephew, the lawyer and antiquary Paul Bowes
Paul Bowes
Paul Bowes , was the editor of D'Ewes's 'Journals.'Bowes was the second son of Sir Thomas Bowes, knight, of Great Bromley, Essex, the notorious witch-persecutor, by Mary, third daughter of Paul D'Ewes, one of the six clerks in chancery....
.
Legacy
Simonds d'Ewes, although known for the events in parliament during the 1640s, is best known for his contribution to the antiquarian world. His chief scholarly legacy is the collection of his transcriptions of primary documents that are now lost. He also kept a diary, which gives an insight into the events in ParliamentLong 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...
; glimpses of his own, possibly self-loving, character are also present.
External links
Sir Simonds d'Ewes, 1st Baronet (December 18, 1602, Milden
Milden, Suffolk
Milden is a small village and civil parish in Suffolk, England. Located in the Babergh district, around four and half miles from Sudbury.The parish contains the Milden Thicks SSSI and the remains of Milden Castle.-Location grid:-External links:...
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, England
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...
- April 18, 1650) was an antiquary and politician. He was bred for the bar, was a member of 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...
and left notes on its transactions. d'Ewes took the Puritan side in the Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. His Journal of all the Parliaments of Elizabeth is of value; he left an Autobiography and Correspondence.
Early life
Simonds d'Ewes was born the eldest son of Paul d'Ewes, of Milden, Suffolk, and Cecelia, the heiress of Sir Richard Simonds. He inherited a fortune from his maternal grandfather while still young; his other grandfather was the printer Gerard D'Ewes. After some early private teaching, including time at the school of Henry Reynolds (father of Bathsua MakinBathsua Makin
Bathsua Reginald Makin was a proto-feminist, middle-class Englishwoman who contributed to the emerging criticism of woman’s position in domestic and public spheres in 17th-century England. Herself a highly educated woman, Makin was referred to as “England’s most learned lady,” skilled in Greek,...
, who impressed D'Ewes much more), he was sent to the grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
at Bury St. Edmunds
Bury St. Edmunds
Bury St Edmunds is a market town in the county of Suffolk, England, and formerly the county town of West Suffolk. It is the main town in the borough of St Edmundsbury and known for the ruined abbey near the town centre...
. He then went to St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
, and studied under Richard Holdsworth
Richard Holdsworth
Richard Holdsworth was an English academic theologian, and Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge from 1637 to 1643...
. At St John's he was exposed to and influenced by a strong college tradition of Puritanism
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
.
He was admitted to the Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
in 1611, and in 1623 was called to the Bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
. He did not pursue a legal career, preferring instead to follow up antiquarian interests, which took him to the records in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
. He met Sir Robert Cotton, who introduced him to John Selden
John Selden
John Selden was an English jurist and a scholar of England's ancient laws and constitution and scholar of Jewish law...
, the outstanding lawyer-scholar of the time; but D'Ewes found him conceited.
His marriage, in 1626, to Anne Clopton, heiress to Sir William Clopton, of Luton's Hall (also known as Kentwell) near Long Melford in Suffolk, brought him a considerable addition to his wealth. He was knighted 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...
on 6 December.
Political career
In 1639, d'Ewes was High SheriffHigh Sheriff
A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
of Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, and 1640, he was elected as member for Sudbury
Sudbury, Suffolk
Sudbury is a small, ancient market town in the county of Suffolk, England, on the River Stour, from Colchester and from London.-Early history:...
, sitting in 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...
. Although he opposed of the King's arbitrary rule, his views were moderate; he was given a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
cy by the king in 1641, possibly as an attempt to buy allegiance, in July. Since his beloved younger brother was an officer in the King's army, this is plausible. But it cannot be confirmed because the King's desperate need for money had led to a resumption of the sale of honors such as baronetcies at this time.
On the outbreak 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...
in 1642, d'Ewes joined 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...
. He remained in Parliament until 1648, when he was expelled in 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...
. After 1648, d'Ewes took no further part in politics, and devoted himself to literary studies. He died on 18 April 1650, having married again, to Elizabeth Willoughby, daughter of Sir Henry Willoughby, Bt
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
.
Antiquarian
Simonds d'Ewes is perhaps best known for his work as an antiquarianAntiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
, and particularly for his transcriptions of important historical documents, originals of which do not survive today, and the Journals of all the Parliaments during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. Although d'Ewes was ambitious in this field, he lacked the ability to generalise or construct effectively, and died without publishing any major work, except The Primitive Practice for Preserving Truth (1645) and a few speeches. The Journals was published posthumously in 1682 by his nephew, the lawyer and antiquary Paul Bowes
Paul Bowes
Paul Bowes , was the editor of D'Ewes's 'Journals.'Bowes was the second son of Sir Thomas Bowes, knight, of Great Bromley, Essex, the notorious witch-persecutor, by Mary, third daughter of Paul D'Ewes, one of the six clerks in chancery....
.
Legacy
Simonds d'Ewes, although known for the events in parliament during the 1640s, is best known for his contribution to the antiquarian world. His chief scholarly legacy is the collection of his transcriptions of primary documents that are now lost. He also kept a diary, which gives an insight into the events in ParliamentLong 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...
; glimpses of his own, possibly self-loving, character are also present.
External links
Sir Simonds d'Ewes, 1st Baronet (December 18, 1602, Milden
Milden, Suffolk
Milden is a small village and civil parish in Suffolk, England. Located in the Babergh district, around four and half miles from Sudbury.The parish contains the Milden Thicks SSSI and the remains of Milden Castle.-Location grid:-External links:...
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, England
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...
- April 18, 1650) was an antiquary and politician. He was bred for the bar, was a member of 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...
and left notes on its transactions. d'Ewes took the Puritan side in the Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. His Journal of all the Parliaments of Elizabeth is of value; he left an Autobiography and Correspondence.
Early life
Simonds d'Ewes was born the eldest son of Paul d'Ewes, of Milden, Suffolk, and Cecelia, the heiress of Sir Richard Simonds. He inherited a fortune from his maternal grandfather while still young; his other grandfather was the printer Gerard D'Ewes. After some early private teaching, including time at the school of Henry Reynolds (father of Bathsua MakinBathsua Makin
Bathsua Reginald Makin was a proto-feminist, middle-class Englishwoman who contributed to the emerging criticism of woman’s position in domestic and public spheres in 17th-century England. Herself a highly educated woman, Makin was referred to as “England’s most learned lady,” skilled in Greek,...
, who impressed D'Ewes much more), he was sent to the grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
at Bury St. Edmunds
Bury St. Edmunds
Bury St Edmunds is a market town in the county of Suffolk, England, and formerly the county town of West Suffolk. It is the main town in the borough of St Edmundsbury and known for the ruined abbey near the town centre...
. He then went to St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
, and studied under Richard Holdsworth
Richard Holdsworth
Richard Holdsworth was an English academic theologian, and Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge from 1637 to 1643...
. At St John's he was exposed to and influenced by a strong college tradition of Puritanism
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
.
He was admitted to the Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
in 1611, and in 1623 was called to the Bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
. He did not pursue a legal career, preferring instead to follow up antiquarian interests, which took him to the records in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
. He met Sir Robert Cotton, who introduced him to John Selden
John Selden
John Selden was an English jurist and a scholar of England's ancient laws and constitution and scholar of Jewish law...
, the outstanding lawyer-scholar of the time; but D'Ewes found him conceited.
His marriage, in 1626, to Anne Clopton, heiress to Sir William Clopton, of Luton's Hall (also known as Kentwell) near Long Melford in Suffolk, brought him a considerable addition to his wealth. He was knighted 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...
on 6 December.
Political career
In 1639, d'Ewes was High SheriffHigh Sheriff
A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
of Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, and 1640, he was elected as member for Sudbury
Sudbury, Suffolk
Sudbury is a small, ancient market town in the county of Suffolk, England, on the River Stour, from Colchester and from London.-Early history:...
, sitting in 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...
. Although he opposed of the King's arbitrary rule, his views were moderate; he was given a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
cy by the king in 1641, possibly as an attempt to buy allegiance, in July. Since his beloved younger brother was an officer in the King's army, this is plausible. But it cannot be confirmed because the King's desperate need for money had led to a resumption of the sale of honors such as baronetcies at this time.
On the outbreak 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...
in 1642, d'Ewes joined 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...
. He remained in Parliament until 1648, when he was expelled in 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...
. After 1648, d'Ewes took no further part in politics, and devoted himself to literary studies. He died on 18 April 1650, having married again, to Elizabeth Willoughby, daughter of Sir Henry Willoughby, Bt
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
.
Antiquarian
Simonds d'Ewes is perhaps best known for his work as an antiquarianAntiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
, and particularly for his transcriptions of important historical documents, originals of which do not survive today, and the Journals of all the Parliaments during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. Although d'Ewes was ambitious in this field, he lacked the ability to generalise or construct effectively, and died without publishing any major work, except The Primitive Practice for Preserving Truth (1645) and a few speeches. The Journals was published posthumously in 1682 by his nephew, the lawyer and antiquary Paul Bowes
Paul Bowes
Paul Bowes , was the editor of D'Ewes's 'Journals.'Bowes was the second son of Sir Thomas Bowes, knight, of Great Bromley, Essex, the notorious witch-persecutor, by Mary, third daughter of Paul D'Ewes, one of the six clerks in chancery....
.
Legacy
Simonds d'Ewes, although known for the events in parliament during the 1640s, is best known for his contribution to the antiquarian world. His chief scholarly legacy is the collection of his transcriptions of primary documents that are now lost. He also kept a diary, which gives an insight into the events in ParliamentLong 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...
; glimpses of his own, possibly self-loving, character are also present.