Sir John Trelawny, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir John Trelawny, 1st Baronet (24 April 1592 – 16 February 1664) was a Cornish
baronet and soldier from Trelawne, Cornwall
. He was High Sheriff of Cornwall
.
and leading members of Parliament which eventually led to the English Civil War
. The King was anxious to influence the election of MPs so as to secure a more pliable Parliament, and in Cornwall efforts on his behalf were being directed by one James Bagg, acting in concert with the Duke of Buckingham
. Two of the King's most implacable opponents, William Coryton
and Sir John Eliot
, had announced their intention of standing for election as knights of the shire for Cornwall
, and Bagg arranged for a caucus of influential Cornish magistrates to mobilise against them. They not only used the official posts to promote alternative candidates and attempted to instruct the High Sheriff (Trelawny himself was High Sheriff of Cornwall
in 1830) who he should return as elected, but they wrote open letters to the freeholders of the county appealing that they should not elect Coryton or Eliot, and to Eliot and Coryton themselves, warning them against persisting with their candidacy. These letters were signed by all the magistrates concerned, of whom Trelawny was one.
The campaign was unavailing, and Eliot and Coryton were duly elected. But such means of campaigning were not then considered legitimate, and when Parliament met the House of Commons issued summonses to all those who had signed the letters, demanding that they appear at the bar of the House and explain themselves. When they failed to attend, Trelawny and three of the others were arrested and brought to London. After hearing counsel's arguments on both sides, the House committed Trelawny and another offender, Walter Langdon, to the Tower of London
, both for the original offence and for their contempt of Parliament in failing to answer the summons.
However, Bagg and Buckingham had been working behind the scenes to ensure that their adherents should benefit rather than suffer for their loyalty to the King. They had already secured a peerage for Trelawny's brother-in-law John Mohun
, who had also been summoned by the Commons as one of the candidates in whose favour the controversial letters had been written. By agreeing, the King was simultaneously demonstrating to the Commons his contempt for their sensibilities and removing Mohun from their jurisdiction (since they could not arrest a peer). Trelawny and Langdon had petitioned the King for their release from the Tower, but he was not willing directly to defy the privileges
of the Commons, and took no action while the House was sitting. However, Bagg had also privately asked as a special favour that Trelawny should be made a baronet. Within an hour of Parliament being prorogued at the end of the month, the King had signed a warrant to the governor of the Tower ordering that Trelawny and Langdon should be released, and committing the Crown to paying the costs of their imprisonment; and, four days later, on 1 July 1628, not only was a baronetcy bestowed on Trelawny but the fees that were ordinarily payable on such an occasion were remitted.
side in the English Civil War
fighting alongside Sir Ralph Hopton and Sir Reginald Mohun
of Boconnoc
, his friend and father-in-law.
On 31 August 1620, Trelawny's daughter, Anne, married Sir Francis Bassett
of Tehidy
, Cornwall
.
Cornish people
The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe...
baronet and soldier from Trelawne, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. He was High Sheriff of Cornwall
High Sheriff of Cornwall
High Sheriffs of Cornwall: a chronological list:Note: The right to choose High Sheriffs each year is vested in the Duchy of Cornwall, rather than the Privy Council, chaired by the Sovereign, which chooses the Sheriffs of all other English counties, other than those in the Duchy of...
.
Parliament
In 1628, Trelawny became involved in the dispute between Charles ICharles 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...
and leading members of Parliament which eventually led to the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. The King was anxious to influence the election of MPs so as to secure a more pliable Parliament, and in Cornwall efforts on his behalf were being directed by one James Bagg, acting in concert with the 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...
. Two of the King's most implacable opponents, William Coryton
William Coryton
William Coryton was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1624 and 1641. He was expelled from parliament for falsyfying returns....
and Sir John Eliot
John Eliot (statesman)
Sir John Eliot was an English statesman who was serially imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he eventually died, by King Charles I for advocating the rights and privileges of Parliament.-Family and early life:...
, had announced their intention of standing for election as knights of the shire for Cornwall
Cornwall (UK Parliament constituency)
Cornwall is a former county constituency covering the county of Cornwall, in the South West of England. It was a constituency of the House of Commons of England then of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832...
, and Bagg arranged for a caucus of influential Cornish magistrates to mobilise against them. They not only used the official posts to promote alternative candidates and attempted to instruct the High Sheriff (Trelawny himself was High Sheriff of Cornwall
High Sheriff of Cornwall
High Sheriffs of Cornwall: a chronological list:Note: The right to choose High Sheriffs each year is vested in the Duchy of Cornwall, rather than the Privy Council, chaired by the Sovereign, which chooses the Sheriffs of all other English counties, other than those in the Duchy of...
in 1830) who he should return as elected, but they wrote open letters to the freeholders of the county appealing that they should not elect Coryton or Eliot, and to Eliot and Coryton themselves, warning them against persisting with their candidacy. These letters were signed by all the magistrates concerned, of whom Trelawny was one.
The campaign was unavailing, and Eliot and Coryton were duly elected. But such means of campaigning were not then considered legitimate, and when Parliament met the House of Commons issued summonses to all those who had signed the letters, demanding that they appear at the bar of the House and explain themselves. When they failed to attend, Trelawny and three of the others were arrested and brought to London. After hearing counsel's arguments on both sides, the House committed Trelawny and another offender, Walter Langdon, to 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...
, both for the original offence and for their contempt of Parliament in failing to answer the summons.
However, Bagg and Buckingham had been working behind the scenes to ensure that their adherents should benefit rather than suffer for their loyalty to the King. They had already secured a peerage for Trelawny's brother-in-law John Mohun
John Mohun, 1st Baron Mohun of Okehampton
John Mohun, 1st Baron Mohun of Okehampton was an English politician.He was the eldest son of Sir Reginald Mohun, 1st Baronet, and was educated at Exeter College, Oxford, graduating in 1608, and joining the Middle Temple...
, who had also been summoned by the Commons as one of the candidates in whose favour the controversial letters had been written. By agreeing, the King was simultaneously demonstrating to the Commons his contempt for their sensibilities and removing Mohun from their jurisdiction (since they could not arrest a peer). Trelawny and Langdon had petitioned the King for their release from the Tower, but he was not willing directly to defy the privileges
Parliamentary privilege
Parliamentary privilege is a legal immunity enjoyed by members of certain legislatures, in which legislators are granted protection against civil or criminal liability for actions done or statements made related to one's duties as a legislator. It is common in countries whose constitutions are...
of the Commons, and took no action while the House was sitting. However, Bagg had also privately asked as a special favour that Trelawny should be made a baronet. Within an hour of Parliament being prorogued at the end of the month, the King had signed a warrant to the governor of the Tower ordering that Trelawny and Langdon should be released, and committing the Crown to paying the costs of their imprisonment; and, four days later, on 1 July 1628, not only was a baronetcy bestowed on Trelawny but the fees that were ordinarily payable on such an occasion were remitted.
Civil War
Sir John distinguished himself on the RoyalistCavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
side in the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
fighting alongside Sir Ralph Hopton and Sir Reginald Mohun
Baron Mohun of Okehampton
Baron Mohun of Okehampton was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created on 15 April 1628 for John Mohun, who had earlier represented Grampound in Parliament. He was the son of Reginald Mohun, who had been created a Baronet, of Boconnoc in the County of Cornwall, in the Baronetage of England...
of Boconnoc
Boconnoc
Boconnoc is a civil parish in Cornwall, United Kingdom, approximately four miles east of Lostwithiel. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 121.The parish is rural in character and is fairly well wooded...
, his friend and father-in-law.
Family
He was the son of Jonathan Trelawny (1568–1604).On 31 August 1620, Trelawny's daughter, Anne, married Sir Francis Bassett
Francis Bassett
Sir Francis Bassett , was a sheriff and vice-admiral of Cornwall and the recorder and M.P. of St. Ives.He married in 1620 Ann, daughter of Sir Jonathan Trelawny of Trelawne, and, during the Civil War in 1643 was busily engaged as a Royalist in the western part of Cornwall, raising money and...
of Tehidy
Tehidy Country Park
Tehidy Country Park is located near Camborne, Redruth and Portreath. It was once part of a created estate that was owned by the wealthy Basset Tin mining family.Covering , the estate was purchased by Cornwall County Council in 1983...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
.