William Nassau de Zuylestein, 1st Earl of Rochford
Encyclopedia
William Nassau de Zuylestein, 1st Earl of Rochford (1649 – 12 July 1708) was a Dutch
soldier and diplomat in the service of William III of England
. During the reign of James II of England
he travelled to England to liaise with William's English supporters, and played an important part in the preparations of the Glorious Revolution
.
, the eldest son of Frederick Nassau de Zuylestein
, who married, as his first wife, in 1644, Mary, eldest daughter of Sir William Killigrew, bart., and first cousin of Charles II's daughter, the Countess of Yarmouth. This Mary Killigrew went over to Holland, aged barely seventeen, as a maid of honour to Mary, princess royal of England and princess of Orange
, in February 1644.
for his gallantry and his good looks, and as a companion of the prince. He was trusted by William, and acquitted himself well on a mission of observation to England in August 1687, the nominal purpose being to condole with the queen-consort upon the death of her mother, the Dowager Duchess Laura of Modena.
He returned with Sidney to The Hague early in August, taking with him letters to William from Nottingham, Churchill, Herbert, Bishop Henry Compton, Sunderland, and others. On his return he was promoted a major-general in the Dutch army. On 16 October he embarked on the same ship as William at Helvoetsluys. On 15 December he was sent by William from Windsor
with a message urging James to stay at Rochester and not on any account return to London. He found on his arrival that James had already returned to Whitehall
, and Zulestein promptly followed him. In response to William's blunt message, James expressed a hope that the prince might be induced to meet him at Whitehall. Zuylestein was ready with an uncompromising answer to the effect that the prince would not enter London while any royal troops remained in it. This had the desired effect of scaring James from the palace.
; he was exchanged and returned to the camp on 8 August. In November 1693 his regiment was again ordered to Flanders.
On 10 May 1695 Zuylestein was created Baron Enfield, Viscount Tunbridge, and Earl of Rochford
, and received a grant of part of the estates of William Herbert, 1st Marquess of Powis
; he took his seat on 20 February 1696. On 25 December 1695 he received a pension of £1,000 per annum. He also received grants of land in Ireland amounting to 30,512 acres.
, on behalf of Mary, worked on the count to marry the lady, and performed the ceremony secretly in Mary's chapel while the prince was absent hunting. William was angry, and Ken had temporarily to withdraw from The Hague.
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
soldier and diplomat in the service of William III of England
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
. During the reign of James II of England
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
he travelled to England to liaise with William's English supporters, and played an important part in the preparations of the Glorious Revolution
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
.
Early life
He was born at the Schloss of Zuylenstein or Zuylestein, about twenty miles from the city of UtrechtUtrecht
Utrecht is a city in the Netherlands.The name may also refer to:* Utrecht , of which Utrecht is the capital* Utrecht , including the city of Utrecht* Bishopric of Utrecht* Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Utrecht...
, the eldest son of Frederick Nassau de Zuylestein
Frederick Nassau de Zuylestein
Frederick Nassau de Zuylestein was an illegitimate son of Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange.-Life:In 1640 his father gave him the castle and title Heer van Zuylestein and made him captain of infantry for the state. In 1659, he was made governor of the household of his nephew, William III of Orange...
, who married, as his first wife, in 1644, Mary, eldest daughter of Sir William Killigrew, bart., and first cousin of Charles II's daughter, the Countess of Yarmouth. This Mary Killigrew went over to Holland, aged barely seventeen, as a maid of honour to Mary, princess royal of England and princess of Orange
Mary II of England
Mary II was joint Sovereign of England, Scotland, and Ireland with her husband and first cousin, William III and II, from 1689 until her death. William and Mary, both Protestants, became king and queen regnant, respectively, following the Glorious Revolution, which resulted in the deposition of...
, in February 1644.
Early career
William Henry entered the Dutch cavalry in 1672, but was better known at The HagueThe Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
for his gallantry and his good looks, and as a companion of the prince. He was trusted by William, and acquitted himself well on a mission of observation to England in August 1687, the nominal purpose being to condole with the queen-consort upon the death of her mother, the Dowager Duchess Laura of Modena.
Glorious Revolution
He was again named envoy in the summer of the following year. His avowed purpose was now to felicitate Mary Beatrice; on the birth of a prince, his real object to inform himself about the nation and to gauge the probability of James II's summoning a parliament and adopting a more conciliatory policy. He was received by the queen at St. James's on 28 June 1688, and the cordiality of his messages inspired Mary Beatrice to write a letter of playful affection to her ‘dear lemon’ (the Princess of Orange); but he wrote at once an account of the sceptical manner in which the birth was received in London, and intrigued with all the prominent malcontents. Clarendon records a number of his movements during July.He returned with Sidney to The Hague early in August, taking with him letters to William from Nottingham, Churchill, Herbert, Bishop Henry Compton, Sunderland, and others. On his return he was promoted a major-general in the Dutch army. On 16 October he embarked on the same ship as William at Helvoetsluys. On 15 December he was sent by William from Windsor
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
with a message urging James to stay at Rochester and not on any account return to London. He found on his arrival that James had already returned to Whitehall
Whitehall
Whitehall is a road in Westminster, in London, England. It is the main artery running north from Parliament Square, towards Charing Cross at the southern end of Trafalgar Square...
, and Zulestein promptly followed him. In response to William's blunt message, James expressed a hope that the prince might be induced to meet him at Whitehall. Zuylestein was ready with an uncompromising answer to the effect that the prince would not enter London while any royal troops remained in it. This had the desired effect of scaring James from the palace.
Military career
Zuylestein was naturalised in England on 11 May 1689, and was appointed master of the robes to the king on 23 May, holding the post down to 1695. His regiment was retained for service in the north of England; in May 1691 it was at Durham. He accompanied William to Ireland, but in August 1690 left the campaign there on a mission to Whitehall. On 12 September 1690 he was promoted a lieutenant-general in the English army. In January 1691 he accompanied William to Holland. In July 1693, in the sanguinary battle of Neerwinden, after distinguishing himself, Zuylestein was slightly wounded and taken to NamurNamur (city)
Namur is a city and municipality in Wallonia, in southern Belgium. It is both the capital of the province of Namur and of Wallonia....
; he was exchanged and returned to the camp on 8 August. In November 1693 his regiment was again ordered to Flanders.
On 10 May 1695 Zuylestein was created Baron Enfield, Viscount Tunbridge, and Earl of Rochford
Earl of Rochford
Earl of Rochford was a a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1695 for William Nassau de Zuylestein, one of the most trusted companions of his kinsman, William of Orange. He was made Viscount Tunbridge at the same time, also in the Peerage of England. He was the son of Frederick...
, and received a grant of part of the estates of William Herbert, 1st Marquess of Powis
William Herbert, 1st Marquess of Powis
William Herbert, 1st Marquess of Powis, PC was an English nobleman.He succeeded his father, the 2nd Baron Powis, as 3rd Baron Powis in 1667, and was created Earl of Powis in 1674 by King Charles II and Viscount Montgomery, of the Town of Montgomery, and Marquess of Powis in 1687 by King James II,...
; he took his seat on 20 February 1696. On 25 December 1695 he received a pension of £1,000 per annum. He also received grants of land in Ireland amounting to 30,512 acres.
Later life
His later years were passed in comparative seclusion for the most part in Holland, where William visited him in 1697, and he died at his estate of Zuylenstein in the province of Utrecht in January 1709. He had married, on 25 January 1681, Jane, daughter of Sir Henry Wroth of Durrants, Enfield, and of Loughton House in Essex. She went over as maid of honour to Mary, princess of Orange. Zuylestein seduced her, and then refused the promised marriage, being strongly encouraged in this course of conduct by William. Thomas KenThomas Ken
Thomas Ken was an English cleric who was considered the most eminent of the English non-juring bishops, and one of the fathers of modern English hymnology.-Early life:...
, on behalf of Mary, worked on the count to marry the lady, and performed the ceremony secretly in Mary's chapel while the prince was absent hunting. William was angry, and Ken had temporarily to withdraw from The Hague.