John Puckering
Encyclopedia
Sir John Puckering was a lawyer
, politician, Speaker of the English House of Commons
, and Lord Keeper from 1592 until his death. He married Anne Chowne, daughter of George Chowne, and had one son, Thomas
, and daughters, including Catherine, who married Adam Newton
.
, East Riding of Yorkshire
, and was the second son of William Puckering. He entered Lincoln's Inn
on 10 April 1559 and he was called to the bar on 15 January 1567. After some years' practice, he became a governor in 1575, and in 1577 became an elected reader in Lent
. He became a sergeant at law in 1580.
, as Speaker of the House of Commons. During this Parliament, a bill against Jesuits was brought up for discussion. Dr William Parry, who was later executed for high treason
, said the bill was "cruel, bloody and desperate". Puckering ordered him into the custody of the sergeant-at-arms for his use of language, and after some discussion, Parry apologised and retook his seat. Puckering's skill with dispute solving and speeches was recognised, and he was elected as the Speaker in the next parliament, which opened on 15 October 1586 when he represented Gatton, Surrey
. This was the parliament that decided the fate of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Puckering was heavily involved with the decision.
On 1 March 1587, shortly following Mary's execution, a Member of Parliament named Wentworth asked Puckering to answer some questions regarding the liberties of the House. Puckering refused, but showed one of the questions to Sir Thomas Heneage
of the Privy Council
. Wentworth, and four other members of parliament who seconded his motion were imprisoned in the Tower of London
for an unknown length of time. The following year, Puckering was knighted and according to some sources was made Queen's Sergeant, though other sources claim he had been made sergeant two years before.
who had published libel about the queen. His final trial was that of Sir John Perrot
, the lord deputy of Ireland
. On 28 May 1592, Puckering was made the Lord Keeper.
in the Strand
. He also owned a country house in Kew
, where he entertained the queen on 13 December 1595.
. They had several children; their son, Thomas
was made a baronet in 1612 but died without issue. His other children also died without issue, and his line died out by 1700. Puckering died on 30 April 1596 of apoplexy
, at his home, and is buried in Westminster Abbey
.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, politician, Speaker of the English House of Commons
Speaker of the British House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, the United Kingdom's lower chamber of Parliament. The current Speaker is John Bercow, who was elected on 22 June 2009, following the resignation of Michael Martin...
, and Lord Keeper from 1592 until his death. He married Anne Chowne, daughter of George Chowne, and had one son, Thomas
Thomas Puckering
Sir Thomas Puckering was an English politician.Thomas was the son of Sir John Puckering, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, who died in May 1596. After 5 years in the household of Prince Henry, who was tutored by Thomas' brother-in-law, Adam Newton, in September 1610 he travelled to Paris, meeting the...
, and daughters, including Catherine, who married Adam Newton
Adam Newton (dean)
Sir Adam Newton was a Scottish scholar, royal tutor, dean of Durham and baronet.-Life:He spent part of his early life in France, passing himself off as a priest and teaching at the college of St. Maixant in Poitou. There, for some time between 1580 and 1590, he instructed the future theologian...
.
Early life
Puckering was born in 1544 in FlamboroughFlamborough
Flamborough is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately north east of Bridlington town centre on the prominent coastal feature of Flamborough Head. The most prominent man-made feature of the area is Flamborough lighthouse. The headland...
, East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
, and was the second son of William Puckering. He entered Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
on 10 April 1559 and he was called to the bar on 15 January 1567. After some years' practice, he became a governor in 1575, and in 1577 became an elected reader in Lent
Lent
In the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial – for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and...
. He became a sergeant at law in 1580.
Work in Parliament
Puckering became a member of parliament in 1581. On 23 November 1585, Parliament met and elected Puckering, who was returned for BedfordBedford (UK Parliament constituency)
Bedford is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The seat was established in its current form in 1997, restoring a centuries old name. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of election...
, as Speaker of the House of Commons. During this Parliament, a bill against Jesuits was brought up for discussion. Dr William Parry, who was later executed for high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
, said the bill was "cruel, bloody and desperate". Puckering ordered him into the custody of the sergeant-at-arms for his use of language, and after some discussion, Parry apologised and retook his seat. Puckering's skill with dispute solving and speeches was recognised, and he was elected as the Speaker in the next parliament, which opened on 15 October 1586 when he represented Gatton, Surrey
Gatton (UK Parliament constituency)
Gatton was a parliamentary borough in Surrey, one of the most notorious of all the rotten boroughs. It elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1450 until 1832, when the constituency was abolished by the Great Reform Act...
. This was the parliament that decided the fate of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Puckering was heavily involved with the decision.
On 1 March 1587, shortly following Mary's execution, a Member of Parliament named Wentworth asked Puckering to answer some questions regarding the liberties of the House. Puckering refused, but showed one of the questions to Sir Thomas Heneage
Thomas Heneage
Sir Thomas Heneage PC was an English politician and a courtier at the court of Elizabeth I.-Early and personal life:...
of the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
. Wentworth, and four other members of parliament who seconded his motion were imprisoned in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
for an unknown length of time. The following year, Puckering was knighted and according to some sources was made Queen's Sergeant, though other sources claim he had been made sergeant two years before.
Queen's Sergeant
Puckering took part in several trials as Queen's Sergeant. He was successfully leader for the crown in the trial of Philip, Earl of Arundel, who was accused of high treason. He joined in the commission with Judge Clarke, in July 1590 in the trial of John UdallJohn Udall (Puritan)
John Udall was an English clergyman of Puritan views, closely associated with the publication of the Martin Marprelate tracts, and prosecuted for controversial works of a similar polemical nature...
who had published libel about the queen. His final trial was that of Sir John Perrot
John Perrot
Sir John Perrot served as Lord Deputy of Ireland under Queen Elizabeth I of England during the Tudor conquest of Ireland...
, the lord deputy of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. On 28 May 1592, Puckering was made the Lord Keeper.
Lord Keeper
Puckering was Lord Keeper for four years, but only presided over one Parliament. During this period, he lived at Russell House, near Ivy Bridge, and then York HouseYork House
-Royal residences:York House was traditionally the name given, often temporarily, to houses in London, England occupied by holders of the title of Duke of York:*The Albany in Piccadilly*Cumberland House in Pall Mall*Dover House in Whitehall...
in the Strand
Strand, London
Strand is a street in the City of Westminster, London, England. The street is just over three-quarters of a mile long. It currently starts at Trafalgar Square and runs east to join Fleet Street at Temple Bar, which marks the boundary of the City of London at this point, though its historical length...
. He also owned a country house in Kew
Kew
Kew is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in South West London. Kew is best known for being the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens, now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace...
, where he entertained the queen on 13 December 1595.
Personal life
Puckering married Anne Chowne, daughter of George Chowne, Esq. of KentKent
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...
. They had several children; their son, Thomas
Thomas Puckering
Sir Thomas Puckering was an English politician.Thomas was the son of Sir John Puckering, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, who died in May 1596. After 5 years in the household of Prince Henry, who was tutored by Thomas' brother-in-law, Adam Newton, in September 1610 he travelled to Paris, meeting the...
was made a baronet in 1612 but died without issue. His other children also died without issue, and his line died out by 1700. Puckering died on 30 April 1596 of apoplexy
Apoplexy
Apoplexy is a medical term, which can be used to describe 'bleeding' in a stroke . Without further specification, it is rather outdated in use. Today it is used only for specific conditions, such as pituitary apoplexy and ovarian apoplexy. In common speech, it is used non-medically to mean a state...
, at his home, and is buried in Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
.