William Howard, 3rd Baron Howard of Escrick
Encyclopedia
William Howard, 3rd Baron Howard of Escrick (1626?-1694) was an English Parliamentarian soldier, nobleman, and plotter.
. He matriculated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
, in 1646, and was then admitted to Lincoln's Inn
. In 1653 he was a soldier in Oliver Cromwell
's life-guards, and a 'great preacher' of the anabaptists, but his views were republican, and he took part in the plots of 1655-6. Committed to the Fleet Prison
in 1657, he successfully petitioned Richard Cromwell
for release in 1658.
In 1660 Sir Edward Hyde found him anxious to serve the king, likely to be useful among the sectaries, and surprisingly well acquainted with recent royalist negotiations. He sat for Winchelsea
in the convention parliament. In 1674 he was discovered in secret correspondence with Holland, spent several months in the Tower of London
and was set free only upon making a full confession.
Succeeding his brother Thomas Howard, 2nd Baron Howard of Escrick as Lord Howard in 1678, he sat on the lords' committees which credited Titus Oates
's information, and furthered the trial of his kinsman, William Howard, 1st Viscount Stafford
. In 1681 he was again sent to the Tower on the false charge made by Edward Fitzharris
, of writing the True Englishman. Algernon Sidney's influence procured his release (February 1682). From then he was part of the “country party” (early Whig) opposition.
He was arrested on the first rumours of the Rye House plot
, and, turning informer at the trial of William Russell, Lord Russell
(July 1683). He gave accounts of meetings at John Hampden's and Russell's houses, which mainly led to Russell's conviction. His evidence similarly ruined Sidney. He himself was pardoned, and died in obscurity at York in April 1694.
By his wife Frances, daughter of Sir James Bridgman, and niece of Sir Orlando Bridgman, he had six children, including Charles, fourth baron, on whose death in 1715 the title became extinct.
Life
He was the second son of Edward Howard, 1st Baron Howard of EscrickEdward Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Escrick
Edward Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Escrick was a British nobleman and Parliamentarian.Howard was the youngest son of Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk. He was knighted KB. In 1624 he was elected Member of Parliament for Calne and for Wallingford and chose to sit for Calne...
. He matriculated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
, in 1646, and was then admitted to 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...
. In 1653 he was a soldier in 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....
's life-guards, and a 'great preacher' of the anabaptists, but his views were republican, and he took part in the plots of 1655-6. Committed to the Fleet Prison
Fleet Prison
Fleet Prison was a notorious London prison by the side of the Fleet River in London. The prison was built in 1197 and was in use until 1844. It was demolished in 1846.- History :...
in 1657, he successfully petitioned 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...
for release in 1658.
In 1660 Sir Edward Hyde found him anxious to serve the king, likely to be useful among the sectaries, and surprisingly well acquainted with recent royalist negotiations. He sat for Winchelsea
Winchelsea (UK Parliament constituency)
Winchelsea was a parliamentary constituency in Sussex, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1366 until 1832, when it was abolished by the Great Reform Act.-Boundaries:...
in the convention parliament. In 1674 he was discovered in secret correspondence with Holland, spent several months 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...
and was set free only upon making a full confession.
Succeeding his brother Thomas Howard, 2nd Baron Howard of Escrick as Lord Howard in 1678, he sat on the lords' committees which credited Titus Oates
Titus Oates
Titus Oates was an English perjurer who fabricated the "Popish Plot", a supposed Catholic conspiracy to kill King Charles II.-Early life:...
's information, and furthered the trial of his kinsman, William Howard, 1st Viscount Stafford
William Howard, 1st Viscount Stafford
Blessed William Howard, 1st Viscount Stafford was the youngest son of Thomas Howard, 21st Earl of Arundel, and his wife, the former Alethea Talbot. He was a supporter of the Royalist cause before being implicated in the Popish Plot and executed for treason...
. In 1681 he was again sent to the Tower on the false charge made by Edward Fitzharris
Edward Fitzharris
Edward Fitzharris was an Anglo-Irish conspirator. His prosecution at the time of the Popish Plot hoax became a struggle for jurisdiction involving the courts and the two Houses of Parliament.-Life:...
, of writing the True Englishman. Algernon Sidney's influence procured his release (February 1682). From then he was part of the “country party” (early Whig) opposition.
He was arrested on the first rumours of the Rye House plot
Rye House Plot
The Rye House Plot of 1683 was a plan to assassinate King Charles II of England and his brother James, Duke of York. Historians vary in their assessment of the degree to which details of the conspiracy were finalized....
, and, turning informer at the trial of William Russell, Lord Russell
William Russell, Lord Russell
William Russell, Lord Russell was an English politician. He was a leading member of the Country Party, forerunners of the Whigs, who opposed the succession of James II during the reign of Charles II, ultimately resulting in his execution for treason.-Early life and marriage:Russell was the third...
(July 1683). He gave accounts of meetings at John Hampden's and Russell's houses, which mainly led to Russell's conviction. His evidence similarly ruined Sidney. He himself was pardoned, and died in obscurity at York in April 1694.
By his wife Frances, daughter of Sir James Bridgman, and niece of Sir Orlando Bridgman, he had six children, including Charles, fourth baron, on whose death in 1715 the title became extinct.