William Trumbull (diplomat)
Encyclopedia
William Trumbull was an English diplomat, administrator and politician.
, Yorkshire
, and his wife, Elizabeth Brogden or Briggden. He seems to have been introduced at court by Sir Thomas Edmondes. Early in James I's reign he was a court messenger, and probably he was attached to Edmondes's embassy to the Archduke Albert of Austria, regent of the Netherlands.
When Edmondes was recalled from Brussels
in 1609, Trumbull was promoted to succeed him as resident at the archduke's court, and retained the post for sixteen years, On 6 June 1611 he was instructed to demand the extradition of William Seymour
and Arabella Stuart should they land in the archduke's dominions. On 17 February 1614, he was granted an ordinary clerkship to the privy council; a sinecure, given that Trumbull remained at his post at Brussels. In 1620 he protested against the Spanish invasion of the Palatinate
.
In 1624 he requested the reversion of one of the six clerks' places for himself and a clerkship of the privy seal for his eldest son. He was recalled in 1625 on the open rupture with Spain and on 16 February 1626 he was returned to parliament for Downton
in Wiltshire
. He assumed active duties as clerk of the privy council, devoting himself especially to naval matters.
On 26 March 1628 he was granted Easthampstead Park
, Berkshire
, on condition of maintaining a deer-park for the king's recreation. Soon afterwards he was appointed muster-master-general. He died in London in September 1635, being succeeded as clerk to the council by his godson Edward Nicholas
, and was buried in Easthampstead church, where a monument was erected to his memory.
's Memorials, and in Dudley Digges
's Compleat Ambassador. While at Brussels Trumbull secured the private correspondence between Francisco de Vargas y Mexia
and Cardinal Granvelle on the Council of Trent
; an English translation was published in 1697 by Michael Geddes
, and one in French by Michel Le Vassor
in 1700.
, Kent
, he left issue two sons and two daughters. The elder son, William (1594?–1668), was father of Sir William Trumbull.
Life
He was son of John Trumbull of CravenCraven
Craven is a local government district in North Yorkshire, England that came into being in 1974, centred on the market town of Skipton. In the changes to British local government of that year this district was formed as the merger of Skipton urban district, Settle Rural District and most of Skipton...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, and his wife, Elizabeth Brogden or Briggden. He seems to have been introduced at court by Sir Thomas Edmondes. Early in James I's reign he was a court messenger, and probably he was attached to Edmondes's embassy to the Archduke Albert of Austria, regent of the Netherlands.
When Edmondes was recalled from Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
in 1609, Trumbull was promoted to succeed him as resident at the archduke's court, and retained the post for sixteen years, On 6 June 1611 he was instructed to demand the extradition of William Seymour
William Seymour, 2nd Duke of Somerset
Sir William Seymour, 2nd Duke of Somerset, KG was an English nobleman and Royalist commander in the English Civil War....
and Arabella Stuart should they land in the archduke's dominions. On 17 February 1614, he was granted an ordinary clerkship to the privy council; a sinecure, given that Trumbull remained at his post at Brussels. In 1620 he protested against the Spanish invasion of the Palatinate
Palatinate
The County Palatine of the Rhine , later the Electoral Palatinate , was a historical territory of the Holy Roman Empire, a palatinate administered by a count palatine...
.
In 1624 he requested the reversion of one of the six clerks' places for himself and a clerkship of the privy seal for his eldest son. He was recalled in 1625 on the open rupture with Spain and on 16 February 1626 he was returned to parliament for Downton
Downton (UK Parliament constituency)
Downton was a parliamentary borough in Wiltshire, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1295 until 1832, when it was abolished by the Great Reform Act.-History:...
in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
. He assumed active duties as clerk of the privy council, devoting himself especially to naval matters.
On 26 March 1628 he was granted Easthampstead Park
Easthampstead Park
Easthampstead Park is a Victorian mansion in the civil parish of Bracknell in the English county of Berkshire. It is currently a conference centre.-Location:...
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, on condition of maintaining a deer-park for the king's recreation. Soon afterwards he was appointed muster-master-general. He died in London in September 1635, being succeeded as clerk to the council by his godson Edward Nicholas
Edward Nicholas
Sir Edward Nicholas was an English statesman.-Life:He was the eldest son of John Nicholas, a member of an old Wiltshire family.He was educated at Salisbury grammar school, Winchester College and Queen's College, Oxford...
, and was buried in Easthampstead church, where a monument was erected to his memory.
Works
Trumbull's correspondence is a source for the diplomatic history of the period; it was preserved in various archives. Many of the letters were printed in Ralph WinwoodRalph Winwood
Sir Ralph Winwood was an English diplomat and politician.-Life:He was born at Aynhoe in Northamptonshire and educated at St John's College, Oxford....
's Memorials, and in Dudley Digges
Dudley Digges
Sir Dudley Digges , of Chilham Castle, Kent , was a Member of Parliament, elected to the Parliament of 1614 and that of 1621, and also a "Virginia adventurer," an investor who ventured his capital in the Virginia Company of London...
's Compleat Ambassador. While at Brussels Trumbull secured the private correspondence between Francisco de Vargas y Mexia
Francisco de Vargas y Mexia
Francisco de Vargas y Mexia was a Spanish diplomat and ecclesiastical writer....
and Cardinal Granvelle on the Council of Trent
Council of Trent
The Council of Trent was the 16th-century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. It is considered to be one of the Church's most important councils. It convened in Trent between December 13, 1545, and December 4, 1563 in twenty-five sessions for three periods...
; an English translation was published in 1697 by Michael Geddes
Michael Geddes
Michael Geddes LL.D. was a Scottish clergyman of the Church of England and historian.-Life:He was born in Scotland about 1650, and educated at the University of Edinburgh, where he took the degree of M.A. in 1668. He was incorporated at Oxford on 11 July 1671, as one of the first four Scots who...
, and one in French by Michel Le Vassor
Michel Le Vassor
Michel le Vassor was a French Oratorian priest and author, who became a Protestant in exile in England. He is known for theological, historical and political works.-Life:...
in 1700.
Family
By his wife Deborah, daughter of Walter Downes of BeltringBeltring
Beltring is a village in the local government district of Tonbridge and Malling in Kent, England.Beltring is known for the annual War and peace show which takes place at The Hop Farm Country Park...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, he left issue two sons and two daughters. The elder son, William (1594?–1668), was father of Sir William Trumbull.