Edward Walsingham
Encyclopedia
Edward Walsingham was an English royalist author, known for his verse of the First English Civil War
and Arcana Aulica, often wrongly attributed to Sir Francis Walsingham.
he was related to the Earl of Bristol
. In the preface to the Arcana Aulica Walsingham is described in 1652 as one who, "though very young, in a little time grew up, under the wings and favour of the Lord Digby
, to such credit with the late king that he came to be admitted to his greatest trusts, and was prevented only by the fall of the court itself from climbing there into an eminenter height." He became secretary to Lord Digby soon after the outbreak of the civil war, possibly in September 1643, when Digby himself was appointed one of the principal secretaries of state after the death of Lucius Cary, 2nd Viscount Falkland
. On 31 October Digby was made high steward of Oxford University, and through his influence Walsingham was created M.A.
While the court was at Oxford, Walsingham lodged in Magdalen College, Oxford
and began writing. Walsingham conducted much of the correspondence in Digby's various intrigues, and during the latter's absence from Oxford was in constant communication with him. More than once important letters from Walsingham were intercepted by parliament and published.
He was at Oxford as late as 1645, but probably before its surrender in June 1646 he escaped to Henrietta Maria's court in France. There, perhaps under the persuasions of Sir Kenelm Digby, he became a Roman Catholic convert. In 1648 Digby was reported to have discarded him, and in the same year he was sent to Ireland; his object seems to have been either to induce the Duke of Ormonde to grant freedom of worship and other Roman Catholic claims, or to secure them by negotiating an understanding between the Catholics and the Independents. Sir Edward Nicholas felt he was unable to keep his missions secret. He was brushed off by Thomas Preston, 1st Viscount Tara
.
Walsingham returned to Paris. In 1652, he was involved in a Catholic intrigue to remove Hyde from Charles II's service, but for some reason he revealed the scheme. In 1654 Walter Montagu
made him a companion to Henry, Duke of Gloucester; but later was excluded from his company. In 1659, he was at Brussels. At the Restoration, he remained in France, acting as secretary to Walter Montagu, who was abbot of St. Martin's, near Pontoise
. In 1660 he was ordained priest and named curé of Aronville, near Pontoise. Accompanying Montagu, to England in the autumn of 1668, he died there suddenly on 9 October of that year.
. This was followed in 1645 by Alter Britanniae Heros, or the Life of ... Sir Henry Gage
. Another work left in manuscript was Hector Britannicus, on Sir John Digby (1605–1645), brother to Sir Kenelm Digby. These works have been described as hagiography
, with the subjects having in common Catholicism, culture and a noble background and character.
In 1651 he sent as a present to Ormonde his Arcana Aulica, or Walsingham's Manual of Prudential Maxims for the Statesman and the Courtier. This work has been generally attributed to Sir Francis Walsingham , and other conjectures have been made as to its authorship. Its original was an anonymous French work, Traité de la Cour, ou Instruction des Courtisans, by Eustache du Refuge, a diplomat and author in the reign of Henry IV of France
. The first edition was published in Holland, the second at Paris, but the earliest known to be extant is the third, which appears in two parts at Paris (1619, 8vo: other editions 1622, 1631, and Leyden, 1649). It was reprinted as Le Nouveau Traité de la Cour in 1664 and 1672, and as Le Conseiller d'Estat in 1685. An English translation by John Reynolds
, with a dedication to Prince Charles
, was published in London in 1622. A Latin translation of the second part only, by Joachimus Pastorius, who was ignorant of its authorship, was published as Aulicus Inculpatus at Amsterdam (Elzevir) in 1644; and this version was reissued by Elzevir in 1649. Walsingham's translation was made from a French manuscript copy, but he also was ignorant of Du Refuge's authorship and of Reynolds's translation, and his version comprises only the second part of the Traité. Several additions were made, e.g. the allusions (p. 37) to Richelieu. In the printer's address it is said to have been captured in an Irish pirate on its way to Ormonde. It was printed at London by James Young in 1652, 4to; a second edition appeared in 1655, and was reprinted in 1810, 12mo. In 1694 it was issued with Sir Robert Naunton's Fragmenta Regalia in 1722 an edition was published substituting Instructions for Youth for the first part of the title, and giving different renderings of various passages from classical authors (reprinted 1728).
First English Civil War
The First English Civil War began the series of three wars known as the English Civil War . "The English Civil War" was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations that took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651, and includes the Second English Civil War and...
and Arcana Aulica, often wrongly attributed to Sir Francis Walsingham.
Life
According to Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of ClarendonEdward 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:...
he was related to the Earl of Bristol
Earl of Bristol
Earl of Bristol is a title that has been created twice in British history. The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1622 in favour of the politician and diplomat John Digby who served for many years as Ambassador to Spain, and had already been created Baron Digby of Sherborne, in the...
. In the preface to the Arcana Aulica Walsingham is described in 1652 as one who, "though very young, in a little time grew up, under the wings and favour of the Lord Digby
George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol
George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 until 1641 when he was raised to the House of Lords...
, to such credit with the late king that he came to be admitted to his greatest trusts, and was prevented only by the fall of the court itself from climbing there into an eminenter height." He became secretary to Lord Digby soon after the outbreak of the civil war, possibly in September 1643, when Digby himself was appointed one of the principal secretaries of state after the death of Lucius Cary, 2nd Viscount Falkland
Lucius Cary, 2nd Viscount Falkland
Lucius Cary, 2nd Viscount Falkland was an English author and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1642...
. On 31 October Digby was made high steward of Oxford University, and through his influence Walsingham was created M.A.
While the court was at Oxford, Walsingham lodged in Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
and began writing. Walsingham conducted much of the correspondence in Digby's various intrigues, and during the latter's absence from Oxford was in constant communication with him. More than once important letters from Walsingham were intercepted by parliament and published.
He was at Oxford as late as 1645, but probably before its surrender in June 1646 he escaped to Henrietta Maria's court in France. There, perhaps under the persuasions of Sir Kenelm Digby, he became a Roman Catholic convert. In 1648 Digby was reported to have discarded him, and in the same year he was sent to Ireland; his object seems to have been either to induce the Duke of Ormonde to grant freedom of worship and other Roman Catholic claims, or to secure them by negotiating an understanding between the Catholics and the Independents. Sir Edward Nicholas felt he was unable to keep his missions secret. He was brushed off by Thomas Preston, 1st Viscount Tara
Thomas Preston, 1st Viscount Tara
Thomas Preston, 1st Viscount Tara was an Irish soldier of the 17th century. He was a descendant of Sir Robert de Preston, who in 1363 purchased the lands of Gormanston, County Meath, and who was keeper of the Great Seal in Ireland some years later....
.
Walsingham returned to Paris. In 1652, he was involved in a Catholic intrigue to remove Hyde from Charles II's service, but for some reason he revealed the scheme. In 1654 Walter Montagu
Walter Montagu
Walter Montagu was an English courtier, secret agent and Benedictine abbot.-Life:He was the second son of Henry Montagu, 1st Earl of Manchester, by his first wife Catherine Spencer. He was born in the parish of St. Botolph Without, Aldersgate, London, and educated at Sidney Sussex College,...
made him a companion to Henry, Duke of Gloucester; but later was excluded from his company. In 1659, he was at Brussels. At the Restoration, he remained in France, acting as secretary to Walter Montagu, who was abbot of St. Martin's, near Pontoise
Pontoise
Pontoise is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris, in the "new town" of Cergy-Pontoise.-Administration:...
. In 1660 he was ordained priest and named curé of Aronville, near Pontoise. Accompanying Montagu, to England in the autumn of 1668, he died there suddenly on 9 October of that year.
Works
He wrote several elegiac works for dead royalist commanders. In 1644 he published Britannicae Virtutis Imago, or the Effigies of True Fortitude expressed ... in the ... actions of ... Major-general Smith, on Sir John Smith, knighted at the Battle of EdgehillBattle of Edgehill
The Battle of Edgehill was the first pitched battle of the First English Civil War. It was fought near Edge Hill and Kineton in southern Warwickshire on Sunday, 23 October 1642....
. This was followed in 1645 by Alter Britanniae Heros, or the Life of ... Sir Henry Gage
Henry Gage (soldier)
Sir Henry Gage was an English Royalist officer.-Life:He was born at Haling, in Surrey, the son of John Gage and Margaret Copley...
. Another work left in manuscript was Hector Britannicus, on Sir John Digby (1605–1645), brother to Sir Kenelm Digby. These works have been described as hagiography
Hagiography
Hagiography is the study of saints.From the Greek and , it refers literally to writings on the subject of such holy people, and specifically to the biographies of saints and ecclesiastical leaders. The term hagiology, the study of hagiography, is also current in English, though less common...
, with the subjects having in common Catholicism, culture and a noble background and character.
In 1651 he sent as a present to Ormonde his Arcana Aulica, or Walsingham's Manual of Prudential Maxims for the Statesman and the Courtier. This work has been generally attributed to Sir Francis Walsingham , and other conjectures have been made as to its authorship. Its original was an anonymous French work, Traité de la Cour, ou Instruction des Courtisans, by Eustache du Refuge, a diplomat and author in the reign of Henry IV of France
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
. The first edition was published in Holland, the second at Paris, but the earliest known to be extant is the third, which appears in two parts at Paris (1619, 8vo: other editions 1622, 1631, and Leyden, 1649). It was reprinted as Le Nouveau Traité de la Cour in 1664 and 1672, and as Le Conseiller d'Estat in 1685. An English translation by John Reynolds
John Reynolds
John Reynolds may refer to:* John Reynolds , English writer* John Reynolds , soldier in the English Civil War* John Reynolds , farmer and agricultural innovator from Kent, England...
, with a dedication to Prince Charles
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...
, was published in London in 1622. A Latin translation of the second part only, by Joachimus Pastorius, who was ignorant of its authorship, was published as Aulicus Inculpatus at Amsterdam (Elzevir) in 1644; and this version was reissued by Elzevir in 1649. Walsingham's translation was made from a French manuscript copy, but he also was ignorant of Du Refuge's authorship and of Reynolds's translation, and his version comprises only the second part of the Traité. Several additions were made, e.g. the allusions (p. 37) to Richelieu. In the printer's address it is said to have been captured in an Irish pirate on its way to Ormonde. It was printed at London by James Young in 1652, 4to; a second edition appeared in 1655, and was reprinted in 1810, 12mo. In 1694 it was issued with Sir Robert Naunton's Fragmenta Regalia in 1722 an edition was published substituting Instructions for Youth for the first part of the title, and giving different renderings of various passages from classical authors (reprinted 1728).