Christopher Villiers, 1st Earl of Anglesey
Encyclopedia
Christopher Villiers, 1st Earl of Anglesey ( – 3 April 1630), known at court as Kit Villiers, was an English
courtier
, Gentleman of the Bedchamber
and later Master of the Robes
to King James I
. In 1623 he was ennobled
as Earl of Anglesey
and Baron Villiers of Daventry.
With little ability of his own, Villiers prospered chiefly thanks to the influence of his brother George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
, a favourite
of James I.
(c. 1544–1606) of Brooksby
, Leicestershire
, by his second marriage, to Mary Beaumont
(c. 1570–1632), later created Countess of Buckingham
. He had two full brothers, George Villiers
, successively Viscount Villiers (1616), then Earl, Marquess, and finally Duke of Buckingham
, and John Villiers, first Viscount Purbeck
, as well as a sister, Susan
, later the countess of William Feilding, 1st Earl of Denbigh
; while Sir Edward Villiers and Sir George Villiers
were his half-brothers.
Villiers was described as "unattractive and unintelligent" in his youth, but he shared in his family's good fortune flowing from the position of his brother George as king's favourite. In 1617 he was appointed Gentleman of the Bedchamber
to King James I
, and on 7 March 1617/18 he was granted an annuity
of £200.
In December of 1617 Sir Robert Naunton
(1563–1635) a middle-aged man with no sons, was appointed as Secretary of State
on the condition of making Villiers his heir, and during his lifetime Villiers gained from Naunton estates yielding £500 a year. Villiers was also granted an interest in the monopoly
for gold and silver thread
, in respect of which he was disappointed to receive only £150 altogether, but he also had a substantial income from the patent for ale houses
. In connection with that, he was accused in parliament of malpractice, but the charges were abandoned. In 1620 Villiers had expectations of becoming Master of the Robes
, which would secure his position at court.
Villiers searched for an heiress to marry, bidding unsuccessfully for the hand of the only daughter of Sir Sebastian Harvey
, a rich City of London
merchant, and for the hand of Lady Elizabeth Norris, daughter of Francis Norris, 1st Earl of Berkshire
. On 16 February 1621/22, a few weeks after Lord Berkshire's suicide on 29 January, John Chamberlain
wrote to Sir Dudley Carleton
:
In the event, Lady Elizabeth's hand was won by Edward Wray, another gentleman of the king's bedchamber, and Joseph Mede
wrote to Sir Martin Stuteville on 13 April 1622 "Mr. Wray is turned out of the bedchamber
for marrying the late Earl of Berkshire's daughter, whom Kit Villiers looked for." On 22 June 1622, Chamberlain wrote to Carleton: "The world talks likewise of divers new earls to be made – as Kit Villiers, if he can be taken off his wench, Earl of Berkshire."
Villiers then married Elizabeth, the daughter and heir of Thomas Sheldon of Howley
in Leicestershire
. On 18 April 1623 Villiers was ennobled
as Earl of Anglesey
and Baron Villiers of Daventry. This had been in the air for more than a year, with the king seeking to persuade Villiers to give up a mistress, but in the event he had failed to do so. On 19 April, John Chamberlain wrote to Sir Dudley Carleton:
If he had had greater abilities, Villiers might have hoped to gain important positions under the Crown
, but as he admitted to his powerful brother in 1627, his "want of preferment proceeded from his own unworthiness rather than from the duke's unwillingness". He was known to have a great fondness for alcohol
, and shortly after the death of James I on 27 March 1625 he disappeared from the royal court, with the rumour going about that the new king, Charles I
, refused to have him because of his drunkenness. Joseph Mede wrote to Sir Martin Stuteville on 23 April 1625:
The appointment of Villiers as Master of the Robes died with the old king, with Charles I retaining Lord Compton
, who had served him in that capacity as Prince of Wales
. According to one historian of the period, Villiers "summed up all that was unsavory and corrupt with the court of James I".
His brother, Buckingham, died on 23 August 1628. Despite this, in December 1628 Villiers gained the position of Keeper of Hampton Court Palace
, and in March 1629 he became also Keeper of Bushey Park
. He was believed to have bought the reversion of the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer
from Edward Barrett, 1st Lord Barrett of Newburgh
, but he died at Windsor
on 3 April 1630. On 12 April he was entombed there in St George's Chapel
.
At the time of his death, Villiers was living at Ashley Park, Walton-on-Thames
. His widow, Elizabeth, Countess of Anglesey, married secondly Benjamin Weston, Esquire, and they continued to live there. Villiers's titles and estates passed first to his only son, Charles, who died childless on 4 February 1661, having married the widow of his cousin William Villiers, Viscount Grandison
. The remaining estates passed next to the second Earl's sister, Anne, widow of Thomas Savile, 1st Earl of Sussex
(1590–1659).
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
courtier
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...
, Gentleman of the Bedchamber
Gentleman of the Bedchamber
A Gentleman of the Bedchamber was the holder of an important office in the royal household of the Kingdom of England from the 11th century, later used also in the Kingdom of Great Britain.-Description and functions:...
and later Master of the Robes
Master of the Robes
The Master of the Robes was an office in the British Royal Household. He was responsible for the King's robes at times such as a coronation, the annual Order of the Garter service and the State Opening of Parliament. Since the reign of King Edward VII, the office has only been filled for coronations...
to King James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
. In 1623 he was ennobled
Peerage of England
The Peerage of England comprises all peerages created in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707. In that year, the Peerages of England and Scotland were replaced by one Peerage of Great Britain....
as Earl of Anglesey
Earl of Anglesey
The title of Earl of Anglesey was created twice in the Peerage of England. The first creation came in 1623 when Christopher Villiers was created Earl of Anglesey, in Wales, as well as Baron Villiers. He was the younger brother of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham and the elder brother of John...
and Baron Villiers of Daventry.
With little ability of his own, Villiers prospered chiefly thanks to the influence of his brother George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham KG was the favourite, claimed by some to be the lover, of King James I of England. Despite a very patchy political and military record, he remained at the height of royal favour for the first two years of the reign of Charles I, until he was assassinated...
, a favourite
Favourite
A favourite , or favorite , was the intimate companion of a ruler or other important person. In medieval and Early Modern Europe, among other times and places, the term is used of individuals delegated significant political power by a ruler...
of James I.
Life
Villiers was the third son of Sir George VilliersGeorge Villiers (of Brokesby)
Sir George Villiers, of Brokesby was a minor member of the English gentry, notable as the father of the royal favourite George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham...
(c. 1544–1606) of Brooksby
Brooksby
Brooksby is a village in Leicestershire, England. Brooksby Melton College offers apprenticeships and further education training courses in animal care, countryside, equine, fisheries, and land based service engineering....
, Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, by his second marriage, to Mary Beaumont
Mary Villiers, Countess of Buckingham
Mary Villers, Countess of Buckingham is perhaps best known as the mother of the royal favourite Sir George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham. She was the daughter of Anthony Beaumont of Glenfield, Leicestershire, a direct descendant of Henry de Beaumont.She became the second wife of Sir George...
(c. 1570–1632), later created Countess of Buckingham
Earl of Buckingham
The peerage title Earl of Buckingham was created several times in the Peerage of England.It was first created in 1097 for Walter Giffard, but became extinct in 1164 with the death of the second earl. It may have been created again in 1164 for Richard de Clare , who died without issue in 1176...
. He had two full brothers, George Villiers
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham KG was the favourite, claimed by some to be the lover, of King James I of England. Despite a very patchy political and military record, he remained at the height of royal favour for the first two years of the reign of Charles I, until he was assassinated...
, successively Viscount Villiers (1616), then Earl, Marquess, and finally Duke of Buckingham
Duke of Buckingham
The titles Marquess and Duke of Buckingham, referring to Buckingham, have been created several times in the peerages of England, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom. There have also been Earls of Buckingham.-1444 creation:...
, and John Villiers, first Viscount Purbeck
Viscount Purbeck
Viscount Purbeck was a title in the Peerage of England that was created on 19 July 1619, along with the title Baron Stoke, for John Villiers, the brother of the 1st Duke of Buckingham and the 1st Earl of Anglesey...
, as well as a sister, Susan
Susan Feilding, Countess of Denbigh
Susan Feilding, Countess of Denbigh was an English courtier. She was a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Henrietta Maria....
, later the countess of William Feilding, 1st Earl of Denbigh
William Feilding, 1st Earl of Denbigh
William Feilding, 1st Earl of Denbigh was an English naval officer and courtier.William Feilding was the son of Basil Fielding of Newnham Paddox in Warwickshire, , and of Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Walter Aston and his wife, Elizabeth Leveson.The descent of the Feildings from the house of Habsburg,...
; while Sir Edward Villiers and Sir George Villiers
Villiers Baronets
The Villiers Baronetcy, of Brooksby, in the County of Leicester was created in the Baronetage of England on 19 July 1619 for William Villiers of Brokesby, Leicestershire...
were his half-brothers.
Villiers was described as "unattractive and unintelligent" in his youth, but he shared in his family's good fortune flowing from the position of his brother George as king's favourite. In 1617 he was appointed Gentleman of the Bedchamber
Gentleman of the Bedchamber
A Gentleman of the Bedchamber was the holder of an important office in the royal household of the Kingdom of England from the 11th century, later used also in the Kingdom of Great Britain.-Description and functions:...
to King James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
, and on 7 March 1617/18 he was granted an annuity
Annuity (European financial arrangements)
An annuity can be defined as a financial contract which provides an income stream in return for an initial payment with specific parameters. It is the opposite of a settlement funding...
of £200.
In December of 1617 Sir Robert Naunton
Robert Naunton
Sir Robert Naunton was an English writer and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1606 and 1626.-Life:...
(1563–1635) a middle-aged man with no sons, was appointed as Secretary of State
Secretary of State (England)
In the Kingdom of England, the title of Secretary of State came into being near the end of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I , the usual title before that having been King's Clerk, King's Secretary, or Principal Secretary....
on the condition of making Villiers his heir, and during his lifetime Villiers gained from Naunton estates yielding £500 a year. Villiers was also granted an interest in the monopoly
Monopoly
A monopoly exists when a specific person or enterprise is the only supplier of a particular commodity...
for gold and silver thread
Goldwork (embroidery)
Goldwork is the art of embroidery using metal threads. It is particularly prized for the way light plays on it. The term "goldwork" is used even when the threads are imitation gold, silver, or copper...
, in respect of which he was disappointed to receive only £150 altogether, but he also had a substantial income from the patent for ale houses
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
. In connection with that, he was accused in parliament of malpractice, but the charges were abandoned. In 1620 Villiers had expectations of becoming Master of the Robes
Master of the Robes
The Master of the Robes was an office in the British Royal Household. He was responsible for the King's robes at times such as a coronation, the annual Order of the Garter service and the State Opening of Parliament. Since the reign of King Edward VII, the office has only been filled for coronations...
, which would secure his position at court.
Villiers searched for an heiress to marry, bidding unsuccessfully for the hand of the only daughter of Sir Sebastian Harvey
Sebastian Harvey
Sir Sebastian Harvey was an English merchant who was Lord Mayor of London in 1618.Harvey was the son of Sir James Harvey who was Lord Mayor in 1581. He became a city of London merchant and a member of the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers. In 1600, he was Master Ironmongers Company...
, a rich City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
merchant, and for the hand of Lady Elizabeth Norris, daughter of Francis Norris, 1st Earl of Berkshire
Francis Norris, 1st Earl of Berkshire
Francis Norris, 1st Earl of Berkshire was an English nobleman with the title of Earl of Berkshire.He was the son of Captain William Norreys and Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Morrison of Cassiobury in Hertfordshire, and was born at Wytham in Berkshire . He married Bridget de Vere, although they...
. On 16 February 1621/22, a few weeks after Lord Berkshire's suicide on 29 January, John Chamberlain
John Chamberlain (letter writer)
John Chamberlain was the author of a series of letters written in England from 1597 to 1626, notable for their historical value and their literary qualities. In the view of historian Wallace Notestein, Chamberlain's letters "constitute the first considerable body of letters in English history and...
wrote to Sir Dudley Carleton
Dudley Carleton, 1st Viscount Dorchester
Dudley Carleton, 1st Viscount Dorchester was an English art collector, diplomat and Secretary of State.-Early life:He was the second son of Antony Carleton of Brightwell Baldwin, Oxfordshire, and of Jocosa, daughter of John Goodwin of Winchendon, Buckinghamshire...
:
In the event, Lady Elizabeth's hand was won by Edward Wray, another gentleman of the king's bedchamber, and Joseph Mede
Joseph Mede
Joseph Mede was an English scholar with a wide range of interests. He was educated at Christ's College, Cambridge, where he became a Fellow from 1613. He is now remembered as a biblical scholar. He was also a naturalist and Egyptologist...
wrote to Sir Martin Stuteville on 13 April 1622 "Mr. Wray is turned out of the bedchamber
Gentleman of the Bedchamber
A Gentleman of the Bedchamber was the holder of an important office in the royal household of the Kingdom of England from the 11th century, later used also in the Kingdom of Great Britain.-Description and functions:...
for marrying the late Earl of Berkshire's daughter, whom Kit Villiers looked for." On 22 June 1622, Chamberlain wrote to Carleton: "The world talks likewise of divers new earls to be made – as Kit Villiers, if he can be taken off his wench, Earl of Berkshire."
Villiers then married Elizabeth, the daughter and heir of Thomas Sheldon of Howley
Howley
The surname Howley may refer to:*Chuck Howley, former American football player*Daniel Philip "Dapper Dan" Howley , American baseball player*James Patrick Howley , Canadian naturalist*Joe Howley, Sinn Féin captain...
in Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
. On 18 April 1623 Villiers was ennobled
Peerage of England
The Peerage of England comprises all peerages created in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707. In that year, the Peerages of England and Scotland were replaced by one Peerage of Great Britain....
as Earl of Anglesey
Earl of Anglesey
The title of Earl of Anglesey was created twice in the Peerage of England. The first creation came in 1623 when Christopher Villiers was created Earl of Anglesey, in Wales, as well as Baron Villiers. He was the younger brother of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham and the elder brother of John...
and Baron Villiers of Daventry. This had been in the air for more than a year, with the king seeking to persuade Villiers to give up a mistress, but in the event he had failed to do so. On 19 April, John Chamberlain wrote to Sir Dudley Carleton:
If he had had greater abilities, Villiers might have hoped to gain important positions under the Crown
The Crown
The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
, but as he admitted to his powerful brother in 1627, his "want of preferment proceeded from his own unworthiness rather than from the duke's unwillingness". He was known to have a great fondness for alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
, and shortly after the death of James I on 27 March 1625 he disappeared from the royal court, with the rumour going about that the new king, 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...
, refused to have him because of his drunkenness. Joseph Mede wrote to Sir Martin Stuteville on 23 April 1625:
The appointment of Villiers as Master of the Robes died with the old king, with Charles I retaining Lord Compton
Spencer Compton, 2nd Earl of Northampton
Spencer Compton, 2nd Earl of Northampton , styled Lord Compton from 1618 to 1630, was an English peer, soldier and politician....
, who had served him in that capacity as Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
. According to one historian of the period, Villiers "summed up all that was unsavory and corrupt with the court of James I".
His brother, Buckingham, died on 23 August 1628. Despite this, in December 1628 Villiers gained the position of Keeper of Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace is a royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Greater London; it has not been inhabited by the British royal family since the 18th century. The palace is located south west of Charing Cross and upstream of Central London on the River Thames...
, and in March 1629 he became also Keeper of Bushey Park
Bushy Park
- External links :***...
. He was believed to have bought the reversion of the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
from Edward Barrett, 1st Lord Barrett of Newburgh
Edward Barrett, 1st Lord Barrett of Newburgh
Edward Barrett, 1st Lord Barrett of Newburgh, PC was an English politician.Barrett was the son of Charles Barrett of Belhouse, Essex and his wife Christian Mildmay . He matriculated at Queen's College, Oxford on 17 March 1597 and entered Lincoln's Inn in 1600...
, but he died at Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
on 3 April 1630. On 12 April he was entombed there in St George's Chapel
St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
St George's Chapel is the place of worship at Windsor Castle in England, United Kingdom. It is both a royal peculiar and the chapel of the Order of the Garter...
.
At the time of his death, Villiers was living at Ashley Park, Walton-on-Thames
Walton-on-Thames
Walton-on-Thames is a town in the Elmbridge borough of Surrey in South East England. The town is located south west of Charing Cross and is between the towns of Weybridge and Molesey. It is situated on the River Thames between Sunbury Lock and Shepperton Lock.- History :The name "Walton" is...
. His widow, Elizabeth, Countess of Anglesey, married secondly Benjamin Weston, Esquire, and they continued to live there. Villiers's titles and estates passed first to his only son, Charles, who died childless on 4 February 1661, having married the widow of his cousin William Villiers, Viscount Grandison
Viscount Grandison
Viscount Grandison of Limerick, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1620 for Sir Oliver St John, the Lord Deputy of Ireland, with special remainder to the male issue of his niece Barbara, wife of Sir Edward Villiers, elder half-brother of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham,...
. The remaining estates passed next to the second Earl's sister, Anne, widow of Thomas Savile, 1st Earl of Sussex
Thomas Savile, 1st Earl of Sussex
Thomas Savile, 1st Earl of Sussex Thomas Savile was born on 14 September 1590, the son of John Savile, 1st Baron Savile of Pomfret and Elizabeth Cary. He was baptised at Doddington-Pigot in the English county of Cheshire....
(1590–1659).