Baptist May
Encyclopedia
Baptist May was a Royal courtier
during the reign of Charles II of England
. He is said to have been Charles's closest and most trusted servant, largely as a result of his knowledge that the king did not like to be approached on matters of business.
May was born in Mid Lavant
, the son of Sir Humphrey May
, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
and his second wife, Judith daughter of Sir William Poley. He was a cousin of Hugh May
, the architect. Baptist was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber
in 1662 and Keeper of the Privy Purse
three years later, thanks to the influence of Charles's mistress, Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Countess of Castlemaine. Castlemaine wanted to ensure that the Keeper was an ally; this would ensure that the payments due to her would become a high priority.
He was nominated by James, Duke of York, the future James II
as MP
for Winchelsea
; however, he lost the election. He joined the Countess of Castlemaine to bring down Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon
in 1667. However, Clarendon's downfall was attributed to his lack of support for the Anglo-Dutch war, so it is unlikely that either Castlemaine or May were major contributors.
Despite being Keeper of the Privy Purse
, May did not enjoy control over the king's private finances. Surviving documents show that the payments by May were routine payments. However, he enjoyed the king's confidence throughout his reign, despite May's offhand remarks. For example, according to Clarendon's biography, after the Great Fire of London
in 1666, he remarked that it was welcomed, to make the city more controllable. This shocked those around him, including the king.
Another test of their friendship began in 1679. As a result of Titus Oates
's claims that several Catholic members of the Royal Household
were plotting to kill the king and put his Catholic brother on the throne, there was a wave of anti-Catholicism throughout England. The Whig
faction in parliament, led by the Earl of Shaftesbury and the Duke of Buckingham
, was pressing the king to divorce his barren
queen, Catherine of Braganza
, and remarry to produce a Protestant heir. May was one of the Whig supporters, and narrowly escaped dismissal from his office in the bedchamber as a result.
After Charles's death in 1685, James came to the throne as James II
. May was dismissed from the office of Keeper of the Privy Purse
. However, he remained Ranger of Windsor Great Park
, and continued to live at what later became known as Cumberland Lodge
, until his death.
Courtier
A courtier is a person who is often in attendance at the court of a king or other royal personage. Historically the court was the centre of government as well as the residence of the monarch, and social and political life were often completely mixed together...
during the reign of Charles II of England
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...
. He is said to have been Charles's closest and most trusted servant, largely as a result of his knowledge that the king did not like to be approached on matters of business.
May was born in Mid Lavant
Lavant, West Sussex
Lavant is a civil parish in the Chichester district of West Sussex, England, just north of Chichester. It is made up of three villages, Mid Lavant and East Lavant together with the much smaller West Lavant, and takes its name from the River Lavant which flows from East Dean...
, the son of Sir Humphrey May
Humphrey May
Sir Humphrey May was an English politician. He was born the fourth son of Richard May, Merchant Taylor of London. He matriculated from St John's College, Oxford on 25th October 1588, graduated B.A. on 3rd March 1592 and became student of the Middle Temple in 1592...
, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is, in modern times, a ministerial office in the government of the United Kingdom that includes as part of its duties, the administration of the estates and rents of the Duchy of Lancaster...
and his second wife, Judith daughter of Sir William Poley. He was a cousin of Hugh May
Hugh May
Hugh May was an English architect in the period after the Restoration of King Charles II. He worked in the era which fell between the first introduction of Palladianism into England by Inigo Jones, and the full flowering of English Baroque under John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor. His own work...
, the architect. Baptist was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber
Groom of the Chamber
Groom of the Chamber and Groom of the Privy Chamber were positions in the Royal Household of the English monarchy, the latter considerably more elevated. Other Ancien Régime royal establishments in Europe had comparable officers, often with similar titles...
in 1662 and Keeper of the Privy Purse
Keeper of the Privy Purse
The Keeper of the Privy Purse and Treasurer to the King/Queen is responsible for the financial management of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom....
three years later, thanks to the influence of Charles's mistress, Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Countess of Castlemaine. Castlemaine wanted to ensure that the Keeper was an ally; this would ensure that the payments due to her would become a high priority.
He was nominated by James, Duke of York, the future James II
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...
as MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Winchelsea
Winchelsea
Winchelsea is a small village in East Sussex, England, located between the High Weald and the Romney Marsh, approximately two miles south west of Rye and seven miles north east of Hastings...
; however, he lost the election. He joined the Countess of Castlemaine to bring down Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon
Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon
Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon was an English historian and statesman, and grandfather of two English monarchs, Mary II and Queen Anne.-Early life:...
in 1667. However, Clarendon's downfall was attributed to his lack of support for the Anglo-Dutch war, so it is unlikely that either Castlemaine or May were major contributors.
Despite being Keeper of the Privy Purse
Keeper of the Privy Purse
The Keeper of the Privy Purse and Treasurer to the King/Queen is responsible for the financial management of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom....
, May did not enjoy control over the king's private finances. Surviving documents show that the payments by May were routine payments. However, he enjoyed the king's confidence throughout his reign, despite May's offhand remarks. For example, according to Clarendon's biography, after the Great Fire of London
Great Fire of London
The Great Fire of London was a major conflagration that swept through the central parts of the English city of London, from Sunday, 2 September to Wednesday, 5 September 1666. The fire gutted the medieval City of London inside the old Roman City Wall...
in 1666, he remarked that it was welcomed, to make the city more controllable. This shocked those around him, including the king.
Another test of their friendship began in 1679. As a result of 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 claims that several Catholic members of the Royal Household
Royal Household
A Royal Household in ancient and medieval monarchies formed the basis for the general government of the country as well as providing for the needs of the sovereign and his relations....
were plotting to kill the king and put his Catholic brother on the throne, there was a wave of anti-Catholicism throughout England. The Whig
British Whig Party
The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
faction in parliament, led by the Earl of Shaftesbury and the Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, 20th Baron de Ros of Helmsley, KG, PC, FRS was an English statesman and poet.- Upbringing and education :...
, was pressing the king to divorce his barren
Barren
Barren primarily refers to a state of Barrenness Barren as a place name can refer to:*Barren County, Kentucky*Barren Island *Barren Island, Brooklyn*Barren River LakeBarren can also refer to:...
queen, Catherine of Braganza
Catherine of Braganza
Catherine of Braganza was a Portuguese infanta and queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the wife of King Charles II.She married the king in 1662...
, and remarry to produce a Protestant heir. May was one of the Whig supporters, and narrowly escaped dismissal from his office in the bedchamber as a result.
After Charles's death in 1685, James came to the throne as James II
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...
. May was dismissed from the office of Keeper of the Privy Purse
Keeper of the Privy Purse
The Keeper of the Privy Purse and Treasurer to the King/Queen is responsible for the financial management of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom....
. However, he remained Ranger of Windsor Great Park
Ranger of Windsor Great Park
The office of Ranger of Windsor Great Park was established to oversee the protection and maintenance of the Great Park at Windsor in the English county of Berkshire. The ranger has always been somebody close to the monarch....
, and continued to live at what later became known as Cumberland Lodge
Cumberland Lodge
Cumberland Lodge is a 17th century country house in Windsor Great Park located 3.5 miles south of Windsor Castle. It is now occupied by a charitable foundation which holds residential conferences, lectures and discussions concerning the burning issues facing society. The primary beneficiaries of...
, until his death.