Ralph Freeman (lawyer)
Encyclopedia
Sir Ralph Freeman was an English civil lawyer, also known as a dramatist and translator. He should not be confused with another Sir Ralph Freeman who was lord mayor of London, and died on 16 March 1634.
in the office of master of requests in 1618. He had married a relation of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
, through whose influence he had also obtained a grant of pre-emption and transportation of tin
for seven years in August 1613. In 1622 he had a grant in reversion of the auditorship of imprests, and also the auditorship of the Mint. It was thought that through Buckingham Freeman would succeed Thomas Murray
as provost of Eton, but the appointment was given to Sir Henry Wotton. Freeman then unsuccessfully applied to Buckingham to be allowed to succeed Wotton as ambassador at Venice
.
In 1626 and 1627 he was on a commission for the arrest of French ships and goods in England. In 1629 he held the office of auditor of imprests, after a dispute as to its possession with Sir Giles Monpesson. He became master worker of the mint at a salary of £500 per annum, when in 1635, jointly with Sir Thomas Aylesbury
, he formed a commission exercising the powers of the Master of the Mint
. This came about by the exclusion from the position of Robert Harley, in favour of the previous incumbent Randal Cranfield, who then died suddenly. Freeman was also one of the first appointed in February 1635 to the newly created office of 'searcher and sealer' of all foreign hops
imported into England.
On the death of Sir Dudley Digges, Freeman bid high for the mastership of the rolls, which was taken by Sir Charles Caesar. He appears to have retired into private life shortly afterwards, and to have lived to an advanced age. In 1655 he published Imperiale, a tragedy which he had written many years before; an unauthorised edition to which he refers had appeared in 1639. Freeman also published two verse translations from Seneca the Younger
: the Booke of Consolation to Marcia (1635), and the other the Booke of the Shortnes of Life (2nd ed. 1663). At the last-given date Freeman was still alive.
Life
He succeeded Robert NauntonRobert 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:...
in the office of master of requests in 1618. He had married a relation of 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...
, through whose influence he had also obtained a grant of pre-emption and transportation of tin
Tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...
for seven years in August 1613. In 1622 he had a grant in reversion of the auditorship of imprests, and also the auditorship of the Mint. It was thought that through Buckingham Freeman would succeed Thomas Murray
Thomas Murray (provost of Eton)
Thomas Murray was a Scottish courtier, at the end of his life Provost of Eton.-Life:He was the son of Murray of Woodend, and uncle of William Murray, 1st Earl of Dysart. He was early attached to the court of James VI of Scotland, and soon after James's accession to the English throne was appointed...
as provost of Eton, but the appointment was given to Sir Henry Wotton. Freeman then unsuccessfully applied to Buckingham to be allowed to succeed Wotton as ambassador at Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
.
In 1626 and 1627 he was on a commission for the arrest of French ships and goods in England. In 1629 he held the office of auditor of imprests, after a dispute as to its possession with Sir Giles Monpesson. He became master worker of the mint at a salary of £500 per annum, when in 1635, jointly with Sir Thomas Aylesbury
Sir Thomas Aylesbury, 1st Baronet
Sir Thomas Aylesbury, 1st Baronet was an English civil servant, Surveyor of the Navy from 1628 and jointly Master of the Mint from 1635, and a patron of mathematical learning.-Life:...
, he formed a commission exercising the powers of the Master of the Mint
Master of the Mint
Master of the Mint was an important office in the governments of Scotland and England, and later Great Britain, between the 16th and 19th centuries. The Master was the highest officer in the Royal Mint. Until 1699, appointment was usually for life. Its holder occasionally sat in the cabinet...
. This came about by the exclusion from the position of Robert Harley, in favour of the previous incumbent Randal Cranfield, who then died suddenly. Freeman was also one of the first appointed in February 1635 to the newly created office of 'searcher and sealer' of all foreign hops
Hops
Hops are the female flower clusters , of a hop species, Humulus lupulus. They are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which they impart a bitter, tangy flavor, though hops are also used for various purposes in other beverages and herbal medicine...
imported into England.
On the death of Sir Dudley Digges, Freeman bid high for the mastership of the rolls, which was taken by Sir Charles Caesar. He appears to have retired into private life shortly afterwards, and to have lived to an advanced age. In 1655 he published Imperiale, a tragedy which he had written many years before; an unauthorised edition to which he refers had appeared in 1639. Freeman also published two verse translations from Seneca the Younger
Seneca the Younger
Lucius Annaeus Seneca was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist, and in one work humorist, of the Silver Age of Latin literature. He was tutor and later advisor to emperor Nero...
: the Booke of Consolation to Marcia (1635), and the other the Booke of the Shortnes of Life (2nd ed. 1663). At the last-given date Freeman was still alive.